[BREAKING] Andhra-based TV5 and ABN news channels charged with Sedition, move Supreme Court against FIR; claim "chilling effect" on media

Andhra-based news channels TV5 and ABN news have moved the Supreme Court against the First Information Report (FIR) registered against them by Andhra Pradesh Police for sedition and other charges after it aired "offending speeches" made by YSR Congress lawmaker, Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju..The petition by TV5 News channel filed late on Sunday evening through AOR Vipin Nair challenged the FIR which the news channel claimed to be the result of telecasting a number of allegedly offensive speeches made by Raju, a Member of Parliament from the ruling party of Andhra Pradesh (YSRCP). .The plea moved by ABN News by AOR Guntur Pramod Kumar stated that ever since YS Jaganmohan Reddy led government has come to power “ABN Andhrajyothi” news channel has been "targeted by the State Government and its broadcasting was stopped at the ruling party/State Government’s behest, forcing it to approach the Hon’ble TDSAT and despite the Order, the access to the Petitioners’ channel is limited in Andhra Pradesh.".According to the FIR, the offending speeches of Raju were broadcast by a number of media outlets, including that of the petitioners. "The only allegation in FIR against the Petitioner’s channel TV5 is that TV5 alloted “premediated” and “organised” slots to Mr. Raju, which according to the impugned FIR evinces a meeting of minds amongst the accused persons," the plea in Supreme Court said. .Aside from the FIR, the news channels also sought quashing of the Enquiry Report of May 14, 2021, which was the basis of the FIR.In addition the petitioners sought stay on consequential investigation and and an order restraining the Police from taking any coercive action against the petitioner company, its news channels, or their employees..TV5 submitted that it has approached the Supreme Court since main accused, Raju, was reportedly arrested in pursuance of the FIR and suffered custodial torture at the hands of the Police.The TV channel contended that it could meted out the same treatment if the Supreme Court does not intervene on an urgent basis. ."The FIR seeks to criminalise the act of airing the views of a sitting Member of Parliament, who is a public figure, in a news channel; which is not only clearly violative of the petitioner’s right to freedom of speech and expression and also creates a chilling effect for media houses in the state," contended the plea..ABN news submitted that registration of the present FIR, especially under the provision of sedition, violates the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) and (g) of the Constitution of India and is nothing "but an attempt to browbeat the media and prevent it from covering issues of public importance, thereby depriving the public of the information about the happenings in the State and the performance of the State Government.".Further, the TV channel contended that the FIR "miserably fails" to establish any nexus of TV5 to any of the alleged offences. "The FIR against TV5 is premised on the fact that there were premediated and organised slots given to Mr. Raju, which is not substantiated in the FIR and even otherwise cannot be termed as a criminal act as public figures are often hosted at designated time slots in news channels," submitted TV5. .ABN news stated that there is grave and imminent threat to the life and liberty of the new channel's management and employees..YSR Congress MP Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju moves Supreme Court seeking bail in sedition case, alleges "indiscriminate beating" by Police .Earlier today, Raju, who was arrested by Andhra Pradesh’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Friday on charges of sedition, had also moved the Supreme Court against a May 15 order of the Andhra Pradesh (AP) High Court denying him bail..Raju, who is an outspoken critic of his own party head, Chief Minister (CM) YS Jaganmohan Reddy had filed an application before special CBI court few weeks ago seeking cancellation of bail granted to Reddy in pending cases before the CBI court.Raju contended before the Supreme Court that the CM is "misutilizing" the State police to frame his political opponents and keep them in jail "so that they will not accuse him of being the person who had spent time in jail as an under trial.".Raju, in his appeal before the Supreme Court, stated that the High Court did not consider any of the grounds for bail and instead directed him to approach sessions court for bail..The FIR against Raju was registered by State CID on the basis of statements made by him on various digital platforms which the Police claimed amounted to "hate speech" and creating enmity between castes and religions.