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In December 2023, the High Court had ordered the registration of FIR against the two interviews aired by the news channel in March earlier that year
A Chief Justice of India led bench of the Supreme Court has today granted protection to the ABP News journalist who had interviewed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in jail.
ABP News moved the Supreme Court against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order asking the SIT headed by Prabohd Kumar IPS, to lodge an FIR in the matter pertaining to the interview.
The bench also comprising Justices Pardiwala and Manoj Misra has directed the accused journalist to co-operate in the investigation being conducted by the SIT.
Court further noted today that the journalist may have breached jail manuals, which was a serious issue in itself.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for ABP News questioned the validity of the High Court's order bringing into scanner the interview conducted by the TV channel in suo motu matter saying, "This is nothing but investigative journalism... The journalist knew that phones are easily available inside the jail. He used his sources to conduct the interview...".
The bench went on to question Rohatgi as to whose permission did the journalist take to conduct the interview. "We see the broader point of Article 19(1)(a) but there are restrictions by virtue of incarceration," the bench added.
In December 2023, the High Court had ordered the registration of FIR and probe by an SIT headed by IPS officer Prabodh Kumar into the interview of Bishnoi. The High Court had acted suo motu in the matter concerning the use of mobile phones by inmates within jail premises.
Case Title: ABP NETWORK AND ANR. vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS
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