SC stays any coercive action against TV anchor for remarks against Sufi saint

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 26

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed coercive action against TV anchor Amish Devgan in connection with multiple FIRs registered against him for his alleged remarks on Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in one of his shows.

Acting on Devgan’s petition seeking quashing of the FIRs, a Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar issued notices to complainants and governments of Rajasthan, Telangana and the Maharashtra where FIRs have been registered against Devgan.

While staying coercive action against the Journalist till the next date, the top court posted the matter for further hearing in the first week of July.

Devgan has also sought clubbing of all FIRs against him for what he described as an “inadvertent mistake” of uttering “Chishti” in place of “Khilji”.

On behalf of Devgan, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra said the proceedings needed to be stayed as Devgan was being called to Ajmer and other places for questioning.

Luthra said the journalist had already issued a clarification and apologised for the slip of tongue. Such errors can’t be treated as criminal offences, he submitted.

The counsel for the complainant alleged that Devgan used the word ‘lootera’ in his show and then offered an apology.

The top court also stayed criminal proceedings against Opindia editors Nupur J Sharma and Ajeet Bharti in connection with FIRs registered against them in West Bengal for their alleged inflammatory reports on the murder of a Hindu man.