Read Time: 04 minutes

Synopsis

The Supreme Court on Monday granted protection from arrest to TV news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary in connection with an FIR registered in Ranchi, for allegedly making objectionable remarks after arrest of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate in January.

After a brief hearing, the bench said orally that the High Court should have granted protection in the matter.

"Pending further orders, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner on the basis of FIR No 0007 of 2024 dated 02 February 2024 registered at Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Police Station, District Ranchi," a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said.

Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the journalist, submitted the petitioner was facing threat of arrest. 

He said that no offence under the SC/ST Act is ex-facie made out against him. 

The FIR was registered against Chaudhary regarding his alleged remarks against the tribal community following the arrest of Soren.

The petitioner, a senior journalist and Consulting Editor with TV Today Network Limited commented on the arrest of the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand during the course of a current affairs programme on January 31, 2024.

The court said pending further orders, no coercive steps be taken against the petitioner. 

The bench issued notice to the state police and others, including the complainant, returnable on April 1 on the plea filed by the news anchor.

A tribal group had filed a police complaint under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against him for his alleged remarks.

Chaudhary filed the special leave petition before the apex court challenging the Jharkhand High Court declined to stay the proceedings against him.

The High Court had February 29 simply issued a notice and set the matter for listing on April 4, 2024.