The Supreme Court on Monday, 8 August, granted interim protection to Times Now anchor Navika Kumar from several complaints lodged against her over offensive remarks made by former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad on her show.
It also granted the anchor protection from any future cases that may be lodged against her over the Prophet row, LiveLaw reported.
A bench comprising Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli passed the order in response to Kumar's writ petition against the First Information Reports filed against her across the country.
'Kumar Didn't Make the Remarks, Tried to Douse the Fire': Counsel
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who was representing Kumar, said that his client had not made those offensive remarks, and that she in fact attempted to "douse the fire."
"In this particular debate, the anchor said nothing. Debate was about Gyanvapi. Suddenly one contestant started speaking, other contested retorted. Petitioner did not say anything. She in fact doused the fire by saying we have to go by the Constitution," Rohatgi argued.
He also said that his client was facing a "rush of FIRs" and that there were six FIRs registered against her in connection with the case in Kolkata alone.
While granting relief, the apex court said, "As an interim measure, no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner pursuant to the impugned FIRs/complaints or future FIRs/complaints which may be registered with respect to the broadcast of 26 May."
Rohatgi, meanwhile, asked the court for an interim stay on the probe, but was denied by the bench, which said that it could not pass such an order without letting the respondents present their case.
On 19 July, Sharma had been granted relief in the dozens of FIRs lodged against her over her controversial remarks.
(With inputs from LiveLaw.)
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