SC says no coercive action on TV anchor, stays probe

The Supreme Court on Friday protected news anchor Amish Devgan of a Hindi news channel from any coercive action by the police in the wake of multiple FIRs lodged against him in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Telangana over his alleged mixing the name of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti with that of invader Alauddin Khilji. He is a news anchor of News18 India Hindi TV channel.

Protecting Mr Devgan from any coercive action by the police in the wake of multiple complaints, a bench comprising Justice

A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari put on hold investigations into the FIRs registered in Maharashtra, Telangana and Rajasthan or any other place. Issuing notice on the petition by Mr Devgan, the court said that the interim protection would continue to operate till the next date of hearing.

Senior counsel Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Devgan told the court that it was a slip of the tongue for which news anchor (Devgan) has already clarified and apologised in a tweet. Mr Luthra said that an error for which an apology has already been tendered can’t be “construed as a criminal offence.”

As the court protected Mr Devgan from any coercive action, lawyer Rizwan Merchant appearing for one of the complainants said that protection from coercive action was fine but further proceedings in the FIRs should be allowed to continue.

◗ MULTIPLE FIRS were lodged against Amish Devgan in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Telangana over his alleged mixing the name of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti with that of invader Alauddin Khilji