Sedition charges against Vinod Dua: SC extends protection from arrest till July 15

SC refused to stay FIRs in the sedition case registered against the senior journalist and Padma Shri awardee Vinod Dua but granted Dua protection from arrest and asked him to cooperate in the investigation from his house itself without needing to travel to different cities.

New Delhi:The Supreme Court extended journalist Vinod Dua's interim protection from arrest till next Wednesday i.e., July 15. The court also ordered that Dua doesn't need to answer the supplementary questionnaire for the investigation.

The court was hearing a plea filed by a veteran journalist Vinod Dua who had sought to stay of FIRs registered against him for sedition. On June 15, in a special Sunday hearing, the top court had refused to stay the FIRs but granted Dua protection from arrest and asked him to cooperate in the investigation from his house itself without needing to travel to different cities.

Senior Advocate, Vikas Singh, appearing for Dua, informed the court that he answered a questionnaire sent by the investigating officers, but one more questionnaire was sent and it is endless, its nothing but harassment.

"I have freedom of speech and have the right to criticise the government. Police have refused to give us details on the nature of complaint even though SC asked for a status report. When they could not do anything, they invoked the Disaster Management Act," argued Singh.

The bench led by Justice UU Lalit said that questions like why a 45-year experienced journalist relied on a newspaper article is not relevant for investigation and doesn't form any empirical evidence.

They said that they want to know about the charges and asked the Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, to submit the records of investigation in a sealed cover in the court.

Judges said that they want confidentiality and therefore demand a sealed cover submission and in the next date of hearing, they will be disposing of the matter. SG Mehta objected to judges staying the answering of a questionnaire to which they replied that everything else can be carried but the questionnaire shall not be sent to Dua again. The next hearing will take place on 15th July.

Dua has been charged with sedition for allegedly spreading fake news on Delhi riots through his show.