Supreme Court Suspects AP Government of Trying To Control Media

ABN and TV News Channels have approached the Supreme Court after they were included as accused in MP Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju’s sedition case FIR by the APCID. The issue came before the Supreme Court on Monday and the Apex court stayed coercive action against the two channels in this case.

The bench hearing the petition expressed a prima facie view that the FIRs are an attempt to “muzzle media freedom” and Justice DY Chandrachud that it is the time to define the limits of sedition and also opined criticizing a Government does not amount to sedition.

CID has incorporated both the channels in the FIR on the allegation that they alloted “premeditated” and “organized” slots to the MP to intentionally malign the state government. The Supreme Court already granted bail to the Accused No 1, Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju in this case.

The MP has alleged custodial violence by the CID and is demanding a CBI inquiry. The issue is also pending before the Supreme Court.