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Supreme Court today allowed Journalist Vinod Dua’s plea seeking to quash FIR against him for sedition and other offences by a BJP Leader, in Shimla.

A Division Bench of Justice UU Lalit and Justice Vineet Saran, while quashing the FIR noted that allowing formation of a committee as sought by the petitioner, would be an encroachment of powers of the Legislature.

“We reject the prayer that no FIR can be registered against any media personnel with 10 years experience unless cleared by Committee”, the Bench added.

An FIR was registered on May 6, 2020 on the complaint by Police Station Kumarsain, District, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh on the complaint of Mr. Ajay Shyam, under section 124A, 268, 501, 505 IPC against Mr. Vinod Dua Journalist, HW News Network.

Dua had approached the Supreme Court seeking quashing of FIR dated May 6, 2020.

Thereafter the Full Judge bench of Justice UU Lalit, Justice MM Shantanagoudar And Vineet Saran vide order dated June 14, 2020 had passed the following directions:

• Pending further orders, the petitioner shall not be arrested in connection with the present crime;
• However, the petitioner in terms of the offer made by him in his communication dated 12.06.2020, shall extend full cooperation through Video Conferencing or Online mode; and
• The Himachal Pradesh Police shall be entitled to carry on the investigation including interrogation of the petitioner at his residence after giving him prior notice of 24 hours and complying with the Social Distancing norms prescribed during Covid-19 Pandemic.

The matter was reserved for judgment after the arguments were concluded on October 6, 2021.

[FULL JUDGMENT TO FOLLOW]