Republic TV staff booked for ‘Inciting Disaffection’ and defaming police

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police on Friday registered a case against some of the editorial staff of Republic TV for alleged incitement to disaffection amongst the members of the Mumbai Police and for allegedly defaming the police force. The police booked four senior editorial staff include those in charge of the newsroom. Those booked “were concerned with airing of a news capsule on Thursday on Republic TV between 7 pm and 7.10 pm — Revolt against Param Bir? Senior officers part of the probe give details,” the FIR read.

Those named in the FIR have been booked under section 3(1) Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922 and certain sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including — section 500 (defamation) and 34 (conspiracy).

“In a brazen abuse of office, the Mumbai Police has booked the ‘editorial staff and newsroom in-charge for the concerned report getting aired and others’.


This comes as the most grave attack on the freedom of press safeguarded under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution of India.

This booking of all journalists if a news media organisation, left unchecked will have a chilling effect on democracy,” a statement released by the news channel read.

The story aired on Republic TV had claimed that some Mumbai Police officers were opposed to the ongoing probe against the channel in the case pertaining to alleged manipulation of TRP.