Media freedom cannot be used as a weapon to obtain illegal benefits : Madhya Pradesh High Court

Bhopal – The Madhya Pradesh High Court has observed that freedom of the press cannot be used by individuals as a means to obtain unlawful benefits. The court stated that although the media plays an important role in a democratic system, media freedom cannot be misused for illegal gain.

These observations were made by a bench led by Justice Himanshu Joshi while hearing a petition filed by a journalist seeking the quashing of charges registered under Sections 384 (extortion) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court granted partial relief to the petitioner. Proceedings related to cheating under Section 420 were quashed, while the trial concerning extortion under Section 384 was allowed to continue.

1. Media freedom cannot become a shield for illegal gain

The court stated that a journalist acts as a watchdog of society and performs the vital duty of disseminating information related to public interest. However, freedom of the press cannot be allowed to become a shield or weapon for securing unlawful advantages.

2. Complaint filed against the journalist

In this case, district president of the Yadav community, Koklal Yadav, filed a complaint against the journalist on August 5th, 2023. According to the complaint, the journalist met Koklal Yadav and several others on July 18th, 2023, introducing himself as a reporter and alleging that a building near the Revenue Inspector’s office was constructed illegally.

Yadav claimed that the journalist demanded money and allegedly threatened to publish a report about the illegal construction if payment was not made.

3. Publication of news report

After Yadav refused to pay, the journalist published an article in the newspaper Pradesh Today, alleging irregularities in the construction of the structure.

4. Police complaint registered

Based on the publication, Koklal Yadav filed a police complaint, following which a criminal case was registered against the journalist.

5. Court’s findings

During the hearing, the High Court found no evidence supporting the cheating charge and therefore discharged the journalist from allegations under Section 420. However, the court observed that, at the preliminary stage, sufficient grounds existed to proceed with the extortion charge under Section 384.