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Synopsis

The Supreme Court today ordered that no coercive action be taken against OpIndia Editor-in-Chief, Nupur J Sharma in the FIR filed against for her story on Bihari migrants being attacked in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Sharma and OpIndia CEO Rahul Roushan had approached the Top Court seeking quashing of said FIR.

While refusing to do so, a CJI Chandrachud led bench has granted them four weeks of interim protection.

Senior Counsel Mahesh Jethmalani appeared for Sharma today before a bench also comprising Justice Narasimha.

The court on hearing Jethmalani said, "We have time and again said that don't come to us for quashing, when S. 482 CrPC is already there...".

Jethmalani then told Court that the editor and the CEO were both are named in FIR and that Sharma had a six year old.

"We cant' quash but we will protect you. We order that no coercive steps be taken against the petitioner for 4 weeks", the bench said.

Court has also asked Sharma and Roushan to approach the Madras High Court with their prayer for quashing.

An FIR was registered against Roushan and Sharma by Tamil Nady police under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) over the alleged fake news.

Said FIR was registered on a complaint by Suryaprakash, divisional secretary of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) IT cell that their posts on Twitter were creating apprehension among migrant workers.

Case Title: Nupur J Sharma vs. State of Tamil Nadu