"Very Easy To Accuse Behind Back": Supreme Court Tells Journalists Allegedly Beaten By MP Police, Calls For SP To Be Made Party

The Supreme Court today issued notice on the 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.

To recap, in May this year, the two journalists alleged that they were manhandled inside the office of Bhind's Superintendent of Police over their reporting. After fleeing from their hometown and coming to Delhi, they approached the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court for protection from coercive action as well as action against the concerned police officials.

Today, a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice on the petition, while asking the petitioners to make the Bhind SP a party.

During the hearing, Justice Karol noted that the petitioners have already approached the Delhi High Court. In response, Advocate Warisha Farasat (for petitioners) informed that in the present case, the petitioners are seeking stay on arrest and protection from coercive action, which prayers were not made before the Delhi High Court.

"Suppose you commit a crime like murder, can we grant you no coercive action order? We don't know what crime has been registered against you by the police. Can we grant you some blanket kind of anticipatory bail order that you'll not be touched even if you commit a crime against this nation, if you kill somebody, can we grant this kind of order?" posed Justice Sharma to Farasat.

Justice Karol on the other hand remarked that the case, as presented by the counsel while seeking urgent mentioning, was not supported by the petition.

"This phantom of a story which you created the other day unfortunately is not made out in the writ petition. You said that day in and day out I am being intimidated, there are threats to life...we believed your phantom and allowed your mentioning...we only wish you had also told us that you have approached Delhi High Court."

At the same time, the judge assured that if there is a threat to life, the Court will protect the petitioners. "We appreciate that you're the fourth pillar, we appreciate also that if there is threat to life, we will come to your rescue. No difficulty at all".

However, first, they would have to address 3 aspects : (i) how is apprehension of threat to life borne out from the record? (ii) what prevents the petitioners from going to MP High Court? and (iii) what prevents the petitioners from going back to Delhi High Court (which is sitting during summer break)?

On the aspect of apprehension of threat, Farasat drew the Court's attention to a release by the Press Club of India and the complaint lodge by MP police against the petitioner(s) on 27.05.2025. "They have given notice after I fled from Delhi and after the PCI release, so they are targeting me", she urged.

At this point, Justice Karol observed that the petitioners ought to have made the Bhind SP a party. "Very easy to say all kinds of things against an IPS officer without making him a party...whatever comes to your mind, just put it in black and white against the IPS officer...[without giving him] a chance to defend himself", remarked Justice Sharma in similar vein.

Apologizing, Farasat conceded to the suggestion. On a specific Court query, she also acknowledged that as of today, the petitioners do not have any apprehension (on account of their being in Delhi).

Appreciating the fair stance, the bench issued notice and listed the matter for next Monday (May 9).

Though Farasat beseeched the Court to grant interim protection from arrest in the meantime, no orders to that effect were passed. "Let the facts be brought by the State also, we don't know if there is any offense or not...very sorry", said Justice Sharma.

In response, Farasat said, "we'll [hope] that since the Supreme Court has issued notice and is seized of the matter, they will not take any coercive steps".

Previously, when the matter was mentioned for urgent listing, the bench questioned the petitioners' counsel as to why they did not approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Citing financial constraints, the counsel informed that the petitioners have fled from their hometown to Delhi perceiving a threat to their lives. Though the bench agreed to list the matter, it expressed that the petitioners were "running a risk". "We should entertain all India matters for anticipatory bails only because a journalist is there?" Justice Sharma asked the petitioners' counsel. Justice Karol, on the other hand, said, "We are telling you, if it comes before this bench, you know the conclusion".

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

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