Fake News Matter: SC Grants 4 Weeks Protection From Arrest To OpIndia Editor

The Supreme Court on Friday granted four weeks protection from arrest to Nupur Sharma, Editor of OpIndia website, and Rahul Roushan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), in a case filed by the Tamil Nadu Police for an allegedly publishing fake story on the website about the torture of Bihari migrant workers in Tamil Nadu.

For the next four weeks, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha ruled that no coercive action be taken against Sharma and Roushan.

However, the Court stated that it will not consider the petitioners’ request to quash the case and that they should instead approach the relevant jurisdictional High Court for the same.

“We cannot consider quashing because petitioner has an effective alternate remedy under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, we direct that no coercive measures be taken against petitioner for the next four weeks,” the Court directed.

Previously, the Madras High Court granted anticipatory bail to Uttar Pradesh BJP Spokesperson and lawyer Prashant Patel Umrao in connection with a case filed by the Tamil Nadu Police against him for allegedly disseminating false information concerning attacks on Bihari migrant workers in the state.

Later, the Supreme Court extended the aforementioned ruling to all FIRs filed against him in connection with the matter.