TN Police registers case against TV newsreader Varadharajen

Chennai, June 9 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu Police here on Tuesday registered a case against theatre personality and Tamil television newscaster S. Varadharajen for circulating a video saying there was lack of beds for Covid-19 patients in the state.Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar had said on Monday action would taken against Varadharajen and others under the Epidemic Diseases Act for causing panic.In a video on Sunday Varadharajen, popularly known as 'TV' Varadharajen, said he found it difficult to get his friend with breathing difficulties admitted to a hospital.Refuting the newscaster's statement, Vijayabaskar said admitting a person to a hospital was the decision of a doctor and the willingness of the patient.According to Vijayabaskar, Tamil Nadu has around 75,000 hospital beds to admit Covid-19 patients and in Chennai alone there are around 5,000 beds.The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has booked cases against Varadharajan under the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act on a complaint lodged by the Director of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.
--IANS vj/pcj