SC stays coercive action against journalists Siddharth Varadarajan, Karan Thapar

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday prohibited Assam Police from taking any coercive action against The Wire editor Siddharth Varadarajan and journalist Karan Thapar, according to a report by Bar and Bench.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also directed both individuals to cooperate with the investigation into the cases registered against them.

"Post the matter on 15 September. Meanwhile, no coercive action shall be taken against petitioner No.2 and members of petitioner-Foundation, including the Consulting Editor pursuant to FIR registered u/s 152 BNS subject to their ... cooperating with investigation," the Court ordered.

The order was passed following a plea filed by Varadarajan and Thapar challenging the summons issued to them by the Crime Branch in connection with a first information report (FIR) registered under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

Section 152 of the BNS pertains to acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.

Notably, Assam Police issued these summons just days after the Supreme Court granted The Wire relief in another Section 152 FIR registered by the same police force.

Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, representing the petitioners, stated that the FIR in question dates back to May and was lodged shortly after the Supreme Court granted protection in the previous case.

She argued that the State appears intent on initiating successive FIRs, creating genuine apprehension of arrest.

After hearing the arguments, the Court granted the journalists protection from arrest.

(With agency inputs)