FIR Against Four Journalists of Republic TV for 'Incitement to Disaffection' Among Mumbai Police Members
The FIR, registered at N M Joshi Marg Police Station in the city, pertained to a report run by the channel about a 'revolt' against the city police commissioner by senior officers, an official said.
Mumbai, October 23: An FIR was registered against four journalists of the news channel Republic TV here on Friday for allegedly defaming the Mumbai police and trying to cause "disaffection" among members of the police force. Republic TV termed it as an "assault on media rights" and said it will fight every "strongarm tactic".
The FIR, registered at N M Joshi Marg Police Station in the city, pertained to a report run by the channel about a 'revolt' against the city police commissioner by senior officers, an official said.
The first information report was filed under section 3(1) of the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922,alongwith IPC section 500 (defamation) on a complaint by sub inspector Shashikant Pawar of the Special Branch, he said. Republic TV Can Use Tagline 'Nation Wants to Know' For Now, But Not 'News Hour', Says Delhi High Court in Republic vs Times Now Case.
It named anchor and deputy news editor Shivani Gupta, anchor and senior associate editor Sagarika Mitra, deputy editor Shawan Sen and executive editor Niranjan Narayanswami.
The accused aired a report on Thursday between 7.00 pm to 7.10 pm about a `revolt' against Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh by senior police officers, the FIR said, claiming that this amounted to incitement to disaffection among members of the police force and defamation of the force.
In its reaction, the news channel said the FIR was a "shocking assault on media rights".
"This is happening for the first time in the world, the Mumbai Police Commissioner is not above the Constitution and the law," it tweeted. TRP Ratings Scam: CBI Registers Case to Probe Alleged Fraud Based on Complaint Filed in Uttar Pradesh.
"In a brazen, blatant and shocking attack on press freedom by Mumbai Police, Republic Media Network has been issued notice to submit details of every transaction since inception and list every single journalist and employee. We will fight each and every strongarm tactic," the channel said.
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