New Delhi : A news item was published in the Malayalam daily newspaper “Mathrubhumi” on 19.12.2019, purportedly based on an oral address made to the press in New Delhi by the then Finance Minister of State of Kerala, Dr. T.M.Thomas Issac which contained slanderous statements against Mr. Sangiago Martin.

Mr. Sangiago Martin, the authorised agent by the State Governments for promotion and sale of Paper Lotteries of various Governments have filed a Criminal Complaint Case before the Judicial Magistrate First Class at Gangtok, Sikkim on counts of dafamation under various sections where Mr. T.M. Thomas Isaac, the former Finance Minister of Kerala as first accused and the Managing Editor and other Top Officials of Mathrubhumi daily have also been arrayed as accused. They were proceeded against by the Court and summons were issued for personal appearance. Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Company Limited has challenged the order of the Judicial Magistrate, First Class at Sikkim taking cognizance before High Court of Sikkim in Crl. Misc. Case No. 06 of 2021 praying for quashing of the complaint filed by Sangiato Martin. The High Court of Sikkim declined to interfere with the order of Judicial Magistrate and vide order dated: 08/09/2022, disposed of Crl. Misc. Case No. 06 of 2021 accordingly.

Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Company Limited has challenged the order of High Court of Sikkim before the Supreme Court of India in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. (s) 11187/2022. During the course, Mathrubhumi daily has regretted its action of publishing derogatory news article against Santiago Martin and agreed to publish the statement of regret in their Malayalam newspaper “Mathrubhumi” in a prominent manner. Although the issue between Santiago Martin and Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Company Limited is resolved as the publication has tendered apology, the Criminal Complaint Case being P.C. Case No.09 of 2020 will continue with respect to Dr. T.M.Thomas Issac, Former Finance Minister of Kerala, in the Court of the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class at Gangtok, Sikkim. The former minister has to face the trial.