The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to two journalists from Madhya Pradesh who were allegedly assaulted and threatened by the Bhind district police for reporting on illegal sand mining in Chambal region.
The journalists—Shashikant Jatav, who works for Dainik Bejor Ratna, and Amarkant Chauhan, the district bureau chief for Swaraj Express—have accused Bhind Superintendent of Police Asit Yadav and other officers of custodial violence.
The court, while refusing to grant further relief at this stage, said no coercive action should be taken against the two. A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan directed the journalists to move the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which has been asked to hear the matter within two weeks.
“We are not entertaining the plea. However, looking at the allegations, we permit the petitioners to move the concerned High Court within two weeks from today. Till then, they shall not be arrested,” the bench said.
The petition, filed through Advocate on Record Yashwant, claimed the journalists were summoned to the SP’s office under the pretext of having tea. But upon arrival, they allegedly saw other local journalists stripped down to their undergarments and being beaten. Jatav and Chauhan say they were also assaulted and further subjected to casteist slurs.
The incident reportedly took place on May 1, after both the journalists published stories exposing illegal sand mining in the Chambal region, allegedly done by sand mafia with support from local police.
Chouhan and Jatav fled to Delhi on May 19 after allegedly being harassed by the Madhya Pradesh police. They later filed complaints with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Press Council of India (PCI), seeking protection.
Highlighting the ongoing threat from the Bhind police, the journalists told the Supreme Court that on May 28, when Chouhan’s case was being heard, the Bhind police were seen outside the Delhi High Court premises.
In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court refused to give interim protection to the journalists, saying it needed more details and a response from the state. It also questioned their claims of life threats and noted that serious charges were made against an IPS officer without hearing his side.
However now the Court has given them protection from arrest and sent them to the MP High Court.
The Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, and the Delhi Union of Journalists have condemned the alleged police violence and demanded strict action against SP Yadav and his team.
Advocates Warisha Farasat, Tamanna Pankaj, Priya Vats, Aman Naqvi, Anirudh Ramanathan, and Shivanjali Bhalerao appeared on behalf of the journalists.
