OpIndia CEO Rahul Roushan and Editor Nupur Sharma have approached before the Madras High Court seeking to quash the FIR filed against them for allegedly spreading false information regarding migrant workers from Bihar in Tamil Nadu.
The case was filed by the Thiruninravur Police in the Avadi City Police Commissionerate under Sections 153A, 501, and 505 of the IPC for making defamatory statements and posting defamatory content, thereby fostering enmity between different groups of people.
Suryaprakash, a member of the ruling DMK’s IT Wing, filed the complaint. Suryaprakash alleged in his complaint that the portal had disseminated fake news, which could cause conflict and a sense of fear among the State’s migrant workers. He further claimed that the news could disturb public tranquillity.
Roushan and Sharma had initially approached before the Supreme Court seeking to quash the FIR. However, the Supreme Court denied relief and pointed out that they had an alternative remedy by approaching the High Court under Section 482 of the CrPC.
The Supreme Court also granted them four weeks of protection from any coercive action based on the FIR, allowing them to avail the judicial remedies.
When the petition was heard by Justice Sathi Kumar Sukumara Kurup’s vacation bench, the court adjourned the matter, to be considered by the regular court after vacation.
