Asks HP Police not to arrest DuaSC refuses to stay probe against scribe

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 14

The Supreme Court on Sunday refused to stay the probe into a sedition case lodged against senior journalist Vinod Dua by the Himachal Pradesh Police in Shimla, but protected him from arrest in the case.

“Pending further orders, the petitioner (Dua) will not be arrested in connection with the present crime,” a three-judge Bench headed by Justice UU Lalit said after a special hearing conducted via video-conferencing.

It asked Dua to join the probe and cooperate with the police in the process through video-conferencing. The police can interrogate Dua at his residence in Delhi after giving him a 24-hour prior notice, it added. The Bench issued notices to the HPGovernment and the Centre on Dua’s petition seeking quashing of the FIR.

Asking the Himachal Pradesh Government to file a status report on probe, the top court posted the matter for further hearing on July 6.