Supreme Court Hears Petition on Assault Allegations Against MP Police Over Two Journalists

The Supreme Court began hearing a petition on Wednesday filed by two journalists, Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chauhan, who alleged that they were subjected to police brutality while in custody for reporting on illegal sand mining in Madhya Pradesh.

A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma agreed to hear the matter and issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government. The next hearing has been scheduled for June 9. The petitioners also sought interim protection from arrest, citing threats to their lives and attempts to suppress their journalistic work.

Background: Previous Court Orders and Safety Concerns

This case surfaced weeks after the Delhi High Court directed protective security for Amarkant Singh Chauhan in May. Chauhan, head of the Bhind bureau for Swaraj Express, had informed the court that he fled Madhya Pradesh due to intimidation and threats from police officials following his reporting on illegal sand mining in the Chambal region.

A single-judge bench led by Justice Ravinder Duzda had ordered Delhi Police to provide Chauhan protection and advised him to seek further relief from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Senior advocates Varisha Farsat, Tamanna Pankaj, Aniruddha Ramanathan, and Priya Vats represented Chauhan in the case.

Allegations of Police Harassment and Forced Confessions

The petition details a pattern of systematic intimidation of independent journalists by Madhya Pradesh police. Besides Chauhan, journalists like Dharmendra Ojha (News 24), Shashikant Jatav (Bejod Ratn), and Pritam Singh (NTV Bharat) were summoned to the Bhind Superintendent of Police office. There, they were reportedly subjected to physical abuse, forced to remove their clothes, had their mobile phones confiscated, and coerced into recording statements under duress.

The petition further accuses the police of beating Chauhan and Jatav and compelling them to record a false video statement claiming that “the matter has been resolved.”

Statements from Journalists and Press Freedom Advocates

Journalist Shashikant Jatav commented on the incident, saying:
“I have full faith in India’s Supreme Court. We were only doing our duty as journalists—exposing corruption that harms people’s lives and the environment. Now, we hope justice will prevail.”

Senior journalist Manoj Kumar Sharma expressed concern, stating:
“This attack is not just on journalists but on the fourth pillar of democracy. It is crucial to rein in such arbitrary state actions. The judiciary’s role in such cases reassures us that justice remains alive in the country.”

Implications for Press Freedom and Journalists’ Safety

This case highlights the increasing threats to press freedom and the safety of journalists in India. With the petition now under consideration by the Supreme Court, it stands as a critical test of whether democratic institutions can effectively protect freedom of expression and uphold democratic values.