New Delhi, Aug 28 — The Supreme Court on Thursday granted four weeks of interim protection from arrest to journalist Abhisar Sharma in connection with an FIR registered against him in Assam over a video allegedly critical of the state’s policies.
A Bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh directed Sharma to approach the Gauhati High Court for relief, including seeking quashing of the case. At the same time, the court issued notice to the Union government on Sharma’s plea challenging the constitutional validity of Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which penalizes acts seen as endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
The FIR was lodged at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station on the basis of a complaint filed by one Alok Baruah. The complainant alleged that a video uploaded by Sharma on his YouTube channel on August 8 could foment communal tension and create distrust toward state authorities.
Sharma has been booked under multiple provisions of the BNS, including Section 152 and Section 196, which pertains to promoting enmity between groups.
According to the complaint, the video in question referred to observations made by the Gauhati High Court, questioning why nearly 3,000 bighas of land in the tribal Dima Hasao district had been allotted to a private company for setting up a cement factory.
The matter will now be taken up after the Centre responds to the Supreme Court’s notice, even as Sharma seeks further relief before the Gauhati High Court.
