The Supreme Court on Friday restrained Assam Police from taking any coercive action against senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan and other journalists associated with digital news portal The Wire in connection with an FIR lodged against them over a news article.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi passed the order while hearing a plea filed by the journalists. Senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, appearing for them, argued that the Assam Police was attempting to bypass earlier protective orders of the apex court. She pointed out that Varadarajan and other journalists, including a consulting editor, had been summoned on Friday for recording statements in connection with an FIR registered in May, raising fears that they might be arrested.
The bench, while extending protection, directed that the journalists must cooperate with the ongoing investigation. “Everyone is expected to follow the law,” the court observed, adding that the petitioners should join the probe and file a status report before the next hearing.
Earlier, on August 12, the Supreme Court had granted interim protection to Varadarajan by restraining the Assam Police from taking coercive steps against him in connection with the FIR. The case pertains to a report published by The Wire on “Operation Sindoor.”
The matter will be heard further after the journalists file their status report.
