SC Orders Release of Senior Journalist Held for Panellist's Remarks

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the immediate release of senior journalist and Sakshi TV anchor Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, who was arrested by Andhra Pradesh police on June 9 over controversial comments made by a panellist during a televised debate, noting that Rao had not made the objectionable remarks himself and that "freedom of journalistic expression deserves protection".

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI:

A bench of justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan, while hearing Rao's petition against his arrest and remand, rejected the state's contention that he had "goaded" the speaker and laughed during the comments. Instead, the court drew a firm line between what a host says and what is said by participants on live shows, stating, "If we accept your logic, all star TV anchors will be booked for what the other panellists say on their shows."