Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and journalists Rajdeep Sardesai, Mrinal Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath, and Anant Nath moved the Supreme Court today against the FIRs filed against them for "misreporting" on the farmers' rally on Republic Day.
Bar and Bench reported that they asked that the "frivolous" FIRs be "cancelled".
The FIRs were filed against six journalists, including Vinod Jose, and Tharoor in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, for "posting tweets and deliberately circulating fake news" on the death of a farmer during the rally. The Indian Express reported that a complaint was also filed against the seven in Bengaluru.
Charges include sedition, promoting enmity, engaging in acts that are prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between religions, and making statements promoting hatred or ill-will.
Sardesai works for India Today, Pande is consulting editor at National Herald, and Zafar Agha is editor of Qaumi Awaz. Vinod Jose, Paresh Nath, and Anant Nath are associated with the Caravan. The FIRs have been widely condemned by the press fraternity.
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