The Bombay High Court on Wednesday, 29 August, raised objections on charges levelled against journalist Poonam Agarwal, in connection with the suicide of Indian Army soldier Lance Naik Roy Mathew, in 2017.
Agarwal was booked for allegedly abetting the suicide of Mathew on 27 March 2017. She was also booked under criminal trespass and the Official Secrets Act, on the basis of a complaint by the Army.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Ranjit More and Justice Bharati Dangre reportedly said:
“Where is the knowledge or intention, made out or that can be attributed to the journalist and also co-accused. Similarly, how can charges under the officials secrets act be made out.”
Hearing a plea filed by the journalist and Kargil war veteran Deepchand Singh, the court observed that the deceased committed suicide because the seniors scolded him, reported DNA.
“The deceased committed suicide because his seniors scolded him, not because of the accused,” the bench said.
The Quint published a video story on 24 February, exposing the abuse of jawans, despite the Army having recently issued a circular to put an end to the misuse of the “sahayak” system.
The identities of all the jawans featured in the video were masked.
While granting anticipatory bail earlier in 2017, the court observed:
The court observed that the sting operation done in a prohibited area does not necessarily attract Official Secrets Act.
The court has posted the matter for further hearing on 19 September.
(With inputs from DNA)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)