Obscene messages: Airtel to face trial as Madras HC refuses to quash case

CHENNAI: In a setback to telecom major Bharti Airtel, the Madras high court has refused to quash a criminal proceeding initiated against the company by a customer for failing to stop obscene text messages being sent to his mobile.

Dismissing the plea moved by Airtel, Justice P Velmurugan directed the chief judicial magistrate in Egmore to conduct the trial proceedings in accordance with law and complete it within four months.

The issue pertains to a police complaint lodged by advocate V S Suresh in 2011 against Airtel and its former chief executive officer Rajiv Rajagopal for failing to stop obscene messages sent to his mobile.