SC stays proceedings in Multiple FIR(s) against 'News18' Anchor Amish Devgan, also grants protection from arrest

The SC on June 26, 2020 {AMISH DEVGAN  vs  UNION OF INDIA & ORS.} held that till next date it stays further proceedings in the FIR No. 78, PS: Dargah, Ajmer, Rajasthan; FIR No. 50, PS: Makbara, Kota, Rajasthan; FIR No. 173, PS: Bahadurpura, Hyderabad City, Telangana; FIR No. 218, PS: Itwara, Nanded, Maharashtra; FIR No. 217, PS: Paidhuni, Mumbai, Maharashtra or any other FIR/FIRs or any criminal complaint which has been filed or which may be filed hereafter, relating to the same telecast dated 15.06.2020 of the petitioner. 

It was held by the Vacation Bench, comprising of Justice A.M. KHANWILKAR & Justice DINESH MAHESHWARI, that till next date the petitioner be protected against any coercive process arising out of and in relation to the FIR No. 78, PS: Dargah, Ajmer, Rajasthan; FIR No. 50, PS: Makbara, Kota, Rajasthan; FIR No. 173, PS: Bahadurpura, Hyderabad City, Telangana; FIR No. 218, PS: Itwara, Nanded, Maharashtra; FIR No. 217, PS: Paidhuni, Mumbai, Maharashtra or any other FIR/FIRs or any criminal complaint which has been filed or which may be filed hereafter, relating to the same telecast dated 15.06.2020 of the petitioner.

In the present case, Multiple FIRs/complaints were registered in connection with the News Debate Show called “Aar Paar” dated 15.06.2020 aired at around 7:30 p.m. on TV channel 'News18 India' against the petitioner/ journalist u/s 295A, 153A, 505, 34 IPC.