The Karnataka High Court has quashed a case of fake news against Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV. The case had been filed by Karnataka Congress member Ravindra MV, who claimed Republic TV Kannada had broadcast a false news report relating to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The row was triggered when Republic TV Kannada reported that the traffic on MG Road in Bengaluru was stopped to enable the Chief Minister to travel through, leaving an ambulance stuck. It was later found that the Chief Minister was not in Bengaluru but in Mysuru.
Goswami was arrested under Section 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on charges of spreading false information. But Justice M Nagaprasanna described the case as an "abuse of the legal process" and dismissed it, saying that no offense had been committed by Goswami.
The Karnataka High Court judgment comes as a good reminder of how much responsibility is placed on the shoulders of the journalists to be watchdogs on those in authority and how important it is that they are also free to report without fear of being taken into custody. It is also an endorsement of judicial independence and a faith in supporting the principles of free speech and media freedom.
As the media scenario keeps changing, reporters must be safeguarded against efforts to silence them. The Karnataka High Court ruling is a welcome development in this respect, and it is a good signal that journalists will not be silenced or intimidated
Fake News case against Media personnel Arnab Goswami
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