Detention of journalists: ‘Free Speech Collective’ moves SC against Delhi Police

The Free Speech Collective (FSC) has moved the Supreme Court seeking contempt proceedings against Delhi Police for detaining more than 20 journalists and obstructing their professional work while they were covering protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, despite a specific judicial direction against such interference.

The contempt petition, filed on Monday (October 12), alleges that the police action on October 11 violated an order passed by a Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana during a special sitting on Sunday. The Bench had directed that “Lawyers, journalists and other professionals shall not be hindered in discharge of their professional duties in any manner whatsoever.”

Plea seeks identification of police personnel

The plea seeks the identification of police personnel and officers responsible for the alleged violence against journalists and disclosure of how the court’s directions were communicated to those deployed on the ground.

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According to the petition, journalists were picked up, dragged and forcibly taken into police vans despite displaying their press credentials. Several were detained for hours before being released. The alleged obstruction continued at multiple locations, including RK Ashram Marg and Connaught Place, even after the court issued its order.

Journalists working for Scroll, Newslaundry, Reuters, Business Standard, BOOMLive, India Today, The News Minute, Maktoob Media, The Indian Express, PTI, The Quint, The Hindu, Peek TV, Reporter TV, 24 News and Asianet News, besides independent journalists, were among those affected, the petition said.

The plea cited the detention of The News Minute journalist Nidhi Suresh, who was taken away in a police vehicle and remained in custody until around 6:30 pm. Three journalists working for The Indian Express Hindi, Shashwat, Siya and Vijay, were detained at Connaught Place despite showing their press cards.

Veteran journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta was also allegedly herded into a police vehicle while giving an interview.

The contempt petition asks the court to examine whether the police action amounted to wilful disobedience of its directions and to hold the officers concerned accountable.

FSC wants independent inquiry

In a separate writ petition, the FSC has sought an independent inquiry into the alleged police violence and obstruction faced by journalists covering the protests. It has sought urgent enforcement of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, which protect equality before the law, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of movement and the right to life and personal liberty.

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The petition argues that the incidents should not be treated as isolated instances of obstruction but as a pattern of police action involving alleged unlawful detention, forcible removal, physical assault, manhandling, intimidation and disregard for press credentials. It also alleges that journalists were deliberately excluded from places where public authorities were exercising power.

“Unless restrained by law and judicial review, such conduct converts the constitutional freedom of the press into a paper guarantee,” the petition stated.

The FSC has sought a time-bound inquiry, action against police personnel found responsible and preservation of CCTV footage and detention records to ensure that evidence relating to the incidents is not lost.

Separately, the Network of Women in Media India (NWMI) has approached the Supreme Court over the alleged assault and arbitrary detention of women journalists by Delhi Police while they were reporting on October 10 and 11. Its writ petition seeks enforceable safeguards governing police-media interactions during protests.

The petitions come amid concerns over the treatment of journalists covering protests in the national capital, where police action against demonstrators and restrictions on reporting have raised questions about the protection of press freedom and the enforcement of judicial safeguards.