KOCHI: Managing director of Reporter TV MV Nikesh Kumar on Friday denied any role in the controversy over Swapna Suresh’s statement. He said that he suspected a conspiracy to entangle him in the issue.
Nikesh Kumar told a TV channel that he knew Shaj Kiran only as a trainee whom he hired during his tenure at India Vision channel. He said that Shaj contacted him on Wednesday evening and sent him a message about it being a news-related matter. He said that Shaj wanted him to do an interview with Suresh. He said that he suspects whether it was a conspiracy to entangle him in the issue. Nikesh said that he has not met Suresh nor contacted her over phone.
No pressure on Swapna: HRDS
Meanwhile, HRDS, Suresh’s employer, has denied allegations of pressurizing Suresh to make statements and added that it doesn’t interfere in such matters. HRDS officials said on Friday that she will be provided legal assistance as she was considered part of the organization. HRDS said that Swapna had hired a lawyer before her association with them, and that they did not provide her any assistance to give the confidential statement recently.
