Supreme Court Stays Arrest Of 2 Journalists Who Alleged Assault By MP Police, Asks Them To Approach HC

The Supreme Court today (June 7) granted interim protection of two weeks to two Journalists in the FIRs lodged by the Madhya Pradesh police and asked them to approach the High Court for relief.  

The bench of Justice PK Mishra and Justice Manmohan was hearing a plea filed by journalists Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan from Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, claiming that they were physically assaulted by state police officials over their reporting of a 'sand mafia' exploiting the Chambal River.

Today, the bench agreed to grant two weeks' protection to the journalists, till the time they approach the High Court for considering their bail. The order stated : 

"We are not inclined to entertain this petition under Article 32, however, considering the nature of allegations, we relegate the petitioner to the concerned HC within period of two weeks from today. Till the petitioner moves High Court and the concerned High Court considers their prayer for interim relief, the petitioners shall not be arrested." 

Previously, while issuing notice in the matter, the bench noted that the petitioners have already approached the Delhi High Court. In response,  Advocate Warisha Farasat for the petitioners informed that in the present case, the petitioners are seeking a stay on arrest and protection from coercive action, which prayers were not made before the Delhi High Court.

During the hearings today, the Counsel for the State of Madhya Pradesh submitted that several complaints have been raised by the public against the petitioners for alleged instances of extortion. 

"More than 10 complaints raised by the Public - there are allegations of extortion!" 

Farasat stressed that such a claim was "not true" and also emphasised, that " We are here because we are actually fearing for our lives." 

Granting the interim relief, the Court said that the jurisdictional High Court can look into these aspects raised by the counsels. 

Background  

Petitioner No. 1-Shashikant Jatav is the Bhind Bureau Chief for Madhya Pradesh based news organization – Dainik Bejor Ratna and petitioner No. 2-Amarkant Singh Chouhan is the Bhind Bureau Chief of Swaraj Express news channel.

The petition accuses the Bhind SP and his subordinates of custodial assault, kidnapping, caste-based abuse, and continued harassment. It is stated that owing to threat to life and liberty, the petitioners have been forced to flee their hometown and do not have the means to approach the MP High Court.

The petition alleges that the petitioners were "misleadingly" invited by the Bhind SP to his office on May 1 and after reaching there, they were physically assaulted and criminally intimidated. Reportedly, there were other journalists present at the SP's office besides the petitioners, who were also assaulted and stripped prior to their arrival.

The plea accuses the Bhind officials of using casteist abuses and slurs against petitioner No.1 (belonging to 'Jatav' community) as well as battering him with chappals. "These acts of Bhind Police are violative of Article 15 of the Constitution and are offences under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989", it states.

Amarkant Singh Chouhan recently approached the Delhi High Court and obtained orders for protection by Delhi police for a period of 2 months. He was also granted liberty to move the MP High Court. Shashikant Jatav however could not obtain similar orders and his petition before the Delhi High Court stands adjourned to July.

Alongside these developments, the petitioners claim that the Bhind Police has initiated vindictive and coercive measures against them, has falsified complaints, and is also lodging false FIRs.

The petition is filed through AoR Yashwant Singh.

Case Title: SHASHIKANT JATAV @ SHASHIKANT GOYAL @ SHASHI KAPOOR v. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH, W.P.(Crl.) No. 237/2025