Kerala Court Rejects Complaint Against Editors Of Media One Channel For Making Alleged Derogatory Remarks About Bhagat Singh
The Judicial Magistrate of First Class-I, Ottapalam (Palakkad) has recently dismissed a private complaint made against the editors of Media One news channel for allegedly making derogatory remarks about freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
The complainant sought the Magistrate to take cognizance against the Managing Editor and other editors of Media One for allegedly saying "abusive" remark about Bhagat Singh that lead to the lowering of Singh's image.
According to the complainant, the statement made by the accused persons in Jeddah on 11.12.2024 while participating in a live programme used "abusive, unpatriotic and derogatory remarks" about Bhagat Singh.
The complaint was with respect to the statement made by C. Dawood, Managing Editor of the channel, in a TV discussion, where he said that Bhagat Singh was someone who put a bomb in Court, and was hanged for being convicted as a terrorist and that his status changed as a martyr and a patriot after August 15, 1947, and that a change in a calendar date can determine whether a person is a terrorist or a patriot.
Pramod Raman and Nawshad Rawther, other Editors of the channel, were also named as accused.
Complaint was preferred to take cognizance under BNS Sections 152 [Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India], 192 [Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot], 196 [Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony], 197(d) [Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration], 352 [Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace], 353(c)(2) [Statements conducting to public mischief].
On being issued notice, the accused persons appeared before the Court which watched the entire video of the programme.
The Court said that there is no basis for taking cognizance of offences under Section 192 and 152 BNS.
Judicial Magistrate Sajitha M.N. observed:
"The complaint has no case that due to the act of the accused, the sovereignty, integrity of India was challenged. His only contention is that due to this act his feelings got injured. After seeing the entire programme the court is of the opinion that there is no intentional insult with intend to provoke breach of peace. Moreover, this statement will not cause any harm to the reputation of a Shaheed Bhagat Singh...A prima facie case is not made against the accused."
The court thus dismissed the complaint.
Case No: CMP No. 721/2025
Case Title: Govindraj V. v. C. Davood and Ors.