New Delhi:In a development that has reignited concerns over press freedom in India, the Assam Police have summoned senior journalists Siddharth Varadarajan and Karan Thapar of The Wire to appear before its Crime Branch in Guwahati on August 22. The summons come just days after the Supreme Court granted the two protection from “coercive action” in a separate but similar case.
The journalists are being called in connection with a First Information Report (FIR) alleging they endangered India’s sovereignty — a charge believed to be linked to The Wire’s critical coverage of Operation Sindoor.
Summons Issued Amid Procedural Questions
According to The Wire, the summons were issued without crucial legal formalities — the FIR was undated, lacked details of the alleged offence, and no copy was furnished to the accused. Legal experts argue these omissions violate mandatory procedural requirements.
The FIR invokes Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a provision concerning acts that threaten the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. Critics have labelled Section 152 as a repackaged version of the now-suspended sedition law (Section 124A of the IPC), which the Supreme Court put on hold in May 2022 pending constitutional review.
Additionally, the FIR includes provisions related to communal enmity, false propaganda, public mischief, abetment, and criminal conspiracy.
Press Bodies Condemn ‘Harassment of Journalists’
The Editors Guild of India expressed deep concern over what it called a “disturbing trend” of law enforcement using multiple criminal provisions to target journalists. “The very process of responding to repeated summons and prolonged court cases becomes a form of punishment,” the Guild said, warning that such practices effectively silence independent journalism.
The Mumbai Press Club also issued a strong condemnation, describing the police action as a “witch hunt” and calling on the media fraternity to stand united against any attempts to intimidate the press. “We must resist all forms of coercion and protect the democratic role of journalism,” the statement read.
Past Warnings Ignored
In July 2024, the Editors Guild had written to the Union Home Ministry highlighting that Section 152 and similar provisions posed a “serious risk of misuse against free speech.” The Guild urged the government to implement procedural safeguards to protect journalists from arbitrary action.
While acknowledging the importance of respecting the law, the Guild cautioned that law enforcement must avoid actions that could undermine public trust in their impartiality. “Honest journalism is not a crime,” it reiterated.
Growing Pattern of Legal Pressure on the Media
This latest episode adds to a growing list of cases where journalists face multiple criminal charges for critical reporting. Rights advocates warn that the trend could have a chilling effect on investigative journalism in India, especially when legal procedures are bypassed.
With The Wire’s senior editors now battling multiple FIRs across states, the issue has once again brought India’s press freedom record under global scrutiny.
