While hearing the petition, the Supreme Court declined to go into the full details of the matter but allowed the petitioners to seek relief before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
New Delhi, June 9th – The Supreme Court of India has granted interim protection from arrest to two Madhya Pradesh-based journalists who have alleged custodial violence, caste-based abuse, and threats to life from Bhind district police officials, including Superintendent of Police (SP) Asit Yadav.
The case was heard by a Bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan.
While hearing the petition, the Supreme Court declined to go into the full details of the matter but allowed the petitioners to seek relief before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The Court observed:
“We are not entertaining the plea. However, looking at the allegations, we permit the petitioners to move the concerned High Court within two weeks from today. Till petitioners move High Court and interim prayer is concerned, the petitioner shall not be arrested.”
Previous Hearing
On June 4th, 2025, A Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma said they could not pass any order without knowing exactly what kind of crime the police are accusing the journalists of.
“Suppose you commit a crime like murder, can we grant you no coercive protection order? We have to know what kind of crime police is alleging,”
-Justice Sharma remarked.
The Court also criticized the way the case was presented, stating that important details were missing from the petition.
Justice Karol said,
“You should have told us that you approached Delhi High Court already. The story that you created last day.. it has not come across in the petition. You have said you have threat to your life day in and day out.”
The journalists’ lawyer, Advocate Warisha Farasat, informed the Court that the Delhi High Court cannot deal with the matter since the events happened in Madhya Pradesh. The Court asked why they had not gone to either the Madhya Pradesh High Court or Delhi High Court, which is functioning during the court vacation.
“We appreciate you are the fourth pillar. But you have to show the apprehension borne out of the record. What prevents you from going to Madhya Pradesh High Court? What prevents you from going to Delhi High court which is sitting during vacations?”
-the judges asked.
The Bench also pointed out that the main person accused—SP Asit Yadav—was not even included as a party in the legal petition.
Justice Sharma stated,
“It is very easy to make allegations against an IPS officer and keep making allegations in black and white.”
When Advocate Farasat asked for temporary protection from arrest till Monday, the Bench refused and said,
“Suppose you are guilty of murder, what do we do? We need to see what’s against you. Sorry we cannot protect you now.”
The Court has issued notice to the Madhya Pradesh government and scheduled the next hearing for June 9.
The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution, asked for immediate protection from threats and arrest for the two journalists. As per their claims, on May 1, after they reported illegal sand mining in the Chambal region allegedly being done with help from local police, they were lured to the SP’s office for tea. But once inside, they saw other journalists stripped to their underwear and allegedly being beaten.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court Stays Meghalaya High Court Order on Custodial Death Compensation
The alleged incident took place on May 1, 2024, soon after the journalists had reported on illegal sand mining in the Chambal river area, an operation they claimed was supported by the local sand mafia in collusion with the police.
The journalists said that on May 1, they were called to the Bhind police station under the pretext of having tea with the SP. But what awaited them was shocking.
As per the petition, once they entered the SP’s office, they saw several other journalists stripped to their undergarments and being beaten.
One of the petitioners, Shashikant Jatav, belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) ‘Jatav’ community. He alleged in the petition that he was abused with casteist slurs and beaten with slippers on SP Yadav’s instructions.
The journalists said that they were unable to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court due to continuous threats and harassment from Bhind police, not only against them but also their families.
According to the petition, the environment in Bhind is so hostile that they fear reprisal if they try to seek justice through local channels.
A team of lawyers – Warisha Farasat, Tamanna Pankaj, Priya Vats, Aman Naqvi, Anirudh Ramanathan, and Shivanjali Bhalerao – appeared before the Supreme Court to represent the two journalists.
CASE TITLE:
Shashikant Jatav @ Shashikant Goyal & Anr v. State of Madhya Pradesh.
