media shots
Shot

Mathrubhumi dismisses news anchor Venu Balakrishnan over sexual harassment allegations: The News Minute

Television journalist and news anchor Venu Balakrishnan was dismissed from his position at Malayalam news channel Mathrubhumi News following allegations of sexual harassment by a woman colleague, the News Minute reported today. The anchor was the host of the channel’s prime time debate show Super Prime Time.

Balakrishnan allegedly sent inappropriate messages to the woman colleague on multiple occasions. The development was confirmed by the Mathrubhumi group’s managing director and Rajya Sabha MP Shreyams Kumar, who told the News Minute: “He has been discharged from duties. The company has zero tolerance towards this.”

Kumar added that the company has taken suo motu action against Balakrishnan and that the female colleague has not filed an official complaint yet.

Also Read: #MeToo in newsrooms: battling sexism since the 1960s

Also Read: The unheard voices of #MeToo in Hindi newsrooms