The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed an FIR against journalist Vinod Dua who was booked for sedition over his YouTube show and granted him relief. The Supreme Court said that every journalist is entitled to protection, any detention or FIR is subject to the law laid down earlier. However, the court declined to order the setting up of a committee to review any complaints of sedition against journalists.
An FIR against Vinod Dua under provisions of the Indian Penal Code for alleged offences of sedition, public nuisance, printing defamatory materials and public mischief was lodged by BJP leader Shyam at Kumarsain police station in Shimla district on May 6 last year and the journalist was asked to join the probe. Shyam had alleged that Vinod Dua, in his YouTube show, had made some allegations against the prime minister.
The Supreme Court bench of Justices UU Lalit and Vineet Saran, however, declined the prayer of Vinod Dua that no FIR can be registered against any media personnel with 10 years’ experience unless cleared by a committee.
On July 20, 2020, the Supreme Court had extended till further orders the protection granted to Vinod Dua from any coercive action in the case. The court had earlier said that Vinod Dua need not answer any other supplementary questions asked by the Himachal Pradesh police in connection with the sedition case.