Kerala TV anchor Aparna Kurup faces a police case and cyberbullying over remarks made during a debate on a Muslim scholar’s comments about women.
Kanthapuram recently said Muslim women should remain confined to their homes / not share public platforms with unrelated men, warning that it would lead to “great destruction.” He framed it as per Islamic teachings and for women’s protection. The remarks drew criticism from some political leaders (including Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan calling them outdated) while others treated them as a scholar’s religious view.
Big TV’s Aparna Kurup hosted a discussion on the issue. In her introductory remarks she strongly criticised the scholar’s position. According to the FIR later filed against her, she also said certain people act as if consuming cannabis, getting arrested in narcotics cases, or engaging in sexual misconduct is permissible under the teachings of the Quran.
The episode triggered heavy online backlash. Users accused her of Islamophobia. The channel pulled the video and both Kurup and Big TV issued an unconditional apology, saying some remarks should have been avoided if they hurt religious sentiments.
Kurup faced intense cyberbullying and alleged death threats. She filed a complaint, leading to a case against debate panellist Abdulla Basil C.P. (Wisdom Students) and another person for defamation and threats after Basil posted a video criticising her remarks as Islamophobic.
Kochi City Cyber Police have now registered a case against Aparna Kurup herself under BNS sections related to provocation intended to cause rioting and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, based on a complaint from a Kasaragod resident.
Posted Sep 8, 2026, 4:57 PM UTC