The Punjab & Haryana High Court granted interim bail to reporters Bhawana Kishore, Mrityunjay Kumar, and Parminder Singh.
The Court stated in its decision that both Mritunjay and Parminder’s arrests were illegal and that the provisions of the law were not considered by the arresting police officer or the remanding magistrate in the case.
Both have been granted additional time to petition the trial court for full bail.
Bhawana Kishore’s interim bail has been extended until the next High Court hearing on May 22, 2023.
This judgment comes as a huge relief after the ordeal endured by the channel and the trio in the aftermath of ‘Operation Sheesh Mahal,’ in which Times Now Navbharat uncovered details of the ultra-lavish and disproportionate expenditure incurred in refurbishing the official residence of the Delhi Chief Minister.
This incident, which has sparked national outrage over the gross and deliberate abuse of state power, as well as the malicious use of the SC/ST Act, has garnered widespread public support.
According to the channel, the trio’s beleaguered families and the Times Network are relieved by the verdict. This reinforces our belief that, no matter how cunning the oppressors are, the truth will never be silenced.
This demonstrates Times Now Navbharat’s dedication to fearless journalism. We will continue to ask uncomfortable questions of those in positions of power without fear of repercussions.
On May 5, Bhawana Kishore, along with cameraman Mrityunjay Kumar and driver Parminder Singh, went to cover a political program presided over by Arvind Kejriwal in Ludhiana and were falsely accused of using casteist remarks against a group of women, believed to be AAP workers, who in an e-rickshaw first rammed into the team’s car, got into a brawl, and called the Ludhiana police.
Bhawana Kishore’s illegal arrest violated several rules, including being detained without the presence of a female police officer, being arrested after sunset, being denied legal and phone access, and being forced to sign documents in Gurmukhi, a language she did not understand.
Mrityunjay who was just a passenger in the Car involved in the alleged accident was illegally and unnecessarily detained and has spent 4 nights in Jail in gross disrespect of his dignity as a citizen.