‘Operation Sheesh Mahal’: HC grants interim bail to journalist Bhawana Kishore, cameraman Mrityunjay, driver Parminder
PTC News Desk: The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted interim bail to female journalist Bhawana Kishore, cameraman Mrityunjay Kumar and driver Parminder. In its judgment the Court has commented that the arrests of Mritunjay and Parminder’s was illegal and that provisions of the law was not considered by the arresting Police Officer and remanding Magistrate in the matter. Both of them have been granted further liberty to move the trial court for full bail. Bhawana Kishore’s interim bail has also been extended till the next date of hearing before the High Court on May 22.
The order read, “Under those circumstances, firstly, the officer, who had taken these two petitioners in custody, could not have done so without making them aware of the fact that they could avail of the remedy of release on submission of bail bonds or surety. The same would be the position as regards the order of remand at the hands of the Duty Magistrate as also the Special Court. It appears that at no stage, the provisions of the Statute were actually gone into or seen. In a mechanical manner, initially the arresting Officer and thereafter, the Judicial Officers proceeded to pass orders of arrest and remand. Continuance of a citizen in custody without there being a mandate of law i.e. illegal custody cannot be permitted. A Court and that too, a Constitutional Court, when comes to know of the same, cannot shut its eyes to the same.”
Earlier, Bhawana and two others moved the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR registered under the provisions of the SC/ST Act and the IPC.
The petition claimed that the matter was nothing but political. The news channel she was working for was reporting against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the construction/renovation of his official residence at a cost of Rs 45 crore. A case has been registered as retaliation and to teach the news channel a lesson. The case registered against the petitioner is false and he is innocent.
Notably, Bhawana Kishore was arrested while she was on her way to report the inauguration of Mohalla Clinics by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. The police also arrested the driver of the vehicle along with the cameraman of the TV channel. It is alleged that he hit a woman with a car and also called her caste-indicative words. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women has directed the DGP to personally intervene and investigate the matter.
Also Read: Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-poll: Punjab Police beef up security across state
- With inputs from agencies
