The Kerala High Court on Tuesday restrained DC Books, Current Books, and John Britas, managing director of Malayalam Communications, or anyone under them from publishing, selling, circulating or distributing the Malayalam book titledAmritanandamayi Madam - Oru Sanyasiniyude Velippeduthalukal for three months.

Justice V.Chitambaresh issued the interim order on a petition filed by Sreejith Krishnan and another person from Thiruvalla challenging a Thiruvalla sub-court order holding that a suit filed against the publishers was not maintainable.

The book contained an interview with Gail Tredwell, alias Gayatri, a former resident of the Amritanandamayi Math, by John Britas. The interview was earlier aired by the Kairali and People TVchannels.

The petitioners contended that the book contained"false and vulgar and explicit depiction of a saintly woman," intending to tarnish her character.

The allegations raised in the interview were"the outcome of a calculated conspiracy hatched by" Mr. Britas and some others who were eager to"defame Mata Amritanandamayi and the Indian spirituality founded on Hinduism".

Plea dismissed

Meanwhile, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A.M. Shaffique dismissed a petition seeking a directive to register an FIR against Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, vice-chairman of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Kollam, on the basis of allegations of sexual exploitation levelled by Gail Tredwell in her book.

In his petition, Supreme Court lawyer Deepak Prakash pointed out that he had informed the Sub-inspector of Police, Karunagapally, about the contents of the book through email after the contents went viral on the social media.

The petitioner alleged that the police officer was being influenced and prevented by the senior official and the Chief Minister as well as the Home Minister from taking any action on the information provided by him.