OpIndia CEO Rahul Roushan, Editor Nupur Sharma Move Madras High Court Against FIR Over Fake News Regarding Bihar Migrant Workers

The Thiruninravur Police in Avadi City Police Commissionerate had registered the case under Section 153A, 501, and 505 of the IPC for making statements and publishing defamatory content, thus promoting enmity between different groups of people. The case was registered upon a complaint lodged by Suryaprakash, a member of the IT Wing of the ruling DMK party. In his complaint, Suryaprakash stated that the portal had published fake news which could create conflict and a sense of fear among the migrant workers in the State. He also stated that the news could cause disruption to public tranquility.

Roushan and Sharma had first approached the Supreme Court seeking to quash the FIR. The SC, however, refused relief and observed that they had an alternative remedy of approaching the High Court under Section 482 of CrPC. The Supreme Court also granted them protection from any coercive action based on the FIR for four weeks allowing them to avail the judicial remedies.

When the matter was taken up by the vacation bench of Justice Sathi Kumar Sukumara Kurup, the court adjourned the matter, to be taken up by the regular court after vacation.

Case Title: Nupur J Sharma and another v. The Inspector of Police and another

Case No: Crl OP 11366 of 2023