Tamil Nadu journalist, political commentator, and publisher Badri Seshadri was taken in by police on the morning of July 29 after a local lawyer filed a First Information Report (FIR) related to comments made in an interview about the ongoing violence in Manipur state. The publisher was served with an arrest warrant, before being transported to Perambalur from his house in the state capital of Chennai.
Seshadri was charged under three sections of the Indian penal code relating to alleged ‘public provocation with intent to cause riots, promotion of enmity between groups, and giving statements conducive to public mischief’, with orders to be held in judicial custody until August 11. Seshadri was released on conditional bail on August 1 but is obligated to report to Tiruchi City’s Srirangam Police Station daily for 15 days.
In the interview, Seshadri questioned the Supreme Court’s ability to handle ongoing violence in India’s north-eastern Manipur state, and posited sending the Chief Justice on a mission to the conflict zone to “see if he can restore peace".
The arrest was criticised by local press freedom bodies and freedom of expression groups, among others.
The IJU said: “While the IJU disagrees with the comment of Badri Seshadri on the Chief Justice of India, it upholds the right of the journalists to criticise anyone and give his or her opinion.”
The IFJ said: “This arrest shows the overreach of the authorities on matters open to public debate. IFJ condemns this arrest and the persecution of Badri Seshadri.”