Chennai, Oct 9 (IANS) A local court Friday granted bail to the news editor of Tamil daily Dinamalar, B. Lenin, arrested Wednesday for permitting the publication of a news item that hurt the sentiments of some female actors.

The chief metropolitan magistrate granted Lenin unconditional bail after hearing his bail plea.

Lenin was arrested Wednesday evening from his office, and remanded in custody till Oct 21 on a complaint lodged by South India Film Artistes Association (SIFAA), after Dinamalar Sunday published a news report with the names and photos of several leading lights of the Tamil cinema allegedly involved in prostitution.

The report was based on the statement given to police by actor Bhuvaneswari, who was arrested a day earlier for running a high-profile prostitution racket from her home.

However, the daily paper published an unconditional apology the next day.

Not satisfied with it, the actors moved SIFAA which lodged a police complaint on the basis of which the police arrested Lenin.

The arrest had sparked off a full-fledged war between journalists in the state and movie actors.

The Chennai Press Club (CPC) and the Madras Union of Journalists (MUJ) Thursday submitted a memorandum to the city police commissioner, demanding action against several leading actors for their speeches at the SIFAA meeting, defaming journalists and their family members.

Expressing happiness at Lenin's release, Bharathithamizhan, CPC joint secretary told IANS: "We want the case to be withdrawn by the police. We will meet probably this (Friday) evening to chalk out our next actions. We will also consult our lawyers on filing defamation case against the actors who made derogatory speeches against journalists and their female family members."