Full Statement: Republic team jailed by Maharashtra govt; network will fight for justice

MASSIVE CLAMPDOWN ON RIGHT TO REPORT: REPUBLIC REPORTING TEAM JAILED BY MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT, NETWORK WILL FIGHT FOR JUSTICE & NOT REVEAL SOURCE OR STORY

Republic Media Network’s reporter Anuj Kumar, video journalist Yashpaljit Singh and Ola cab driver Preep Dilip Dhanave have been taken into illegal police custody by Maharashtra Police. reporting team was following a journalistic le in an investigative assignment in Karjat in Raig. In what is biggest clampdown on right to report, Republic team was apprehended and thrown into jail for 4 days after making an enquiry with a security guard of a certain residence. We are shocked that Republic team was denied any legal representation before being sent to 4 days of custody.

Our team, which is in jail at present, has been charged under sections of trespassing. This is in blatant contriction to facts recorded in press statement by Police given that it is on-record that Republic team was apprehended on approaching a security guard. Should intent have been to ‘trespass’ as is being alleged, an official enquiry to a security guard at a residential gate would not have been me.

We are being informed that our reporter is being pressured by state machinery in Maharashtra to reveal his story, his les and his sources. Our reporter will not reveal source or story. This stands in complete violation of right to report protected by Constitution of India. If idea is to intimidate our journalistic teams, Republic Media Network reiterates that we will not reveal our sources or stories, despite threat of an excessive use of police force by state government in Maharashtra.

In democratic Republic of India, every citizen has right to move freely as part of ir fundamental rights under Article 19(d), and no citizen can be illegitimately deprived of his life or personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of Constitution of India. se rights do not extinguish in rius around any Chief Minister’s residence. illegal detention of our reporter and video journalist is an attack on constitutionally guaranteed rights with a motivation to muzzle a free press, deny right to report, and to deter any journalist from speaking truth to power and pursuing stories of public interest as fourth pillar of our democracy.

This incident reveals a horrendous overreach by Maharashtra government. message being sent by Maharashtra government and its machinery is that no journalist pursuing a story can report in Karjat, or near Chief Minister’s home. In a free democratic country, if a reporter near Chief Minister’s house to pursue a story is put in jail for 4 days without legal representation, it is not only an obvious and blatant attack on right to report, but also most determined attack on media freedom in India.

Republic Media Network strongly states that this excessive use of police force on our team is against very tenets of Indian democracy which guarantees right to report as a fundamental right. Maharashtra Government’s dictatorial approach in using its state machinery to hunt down our reporter on an investigative assignment will be fought by Republic Media Network at every forum and stage by all means permitted under law.

This incident seems part of a larger pattern by Maharashtra government to try and block Republic Media Network. We believe that this is undoubtedly malicious action against our team which has been proven by concerted nature of action. Consider following:

1. Legitimate legal representation has been denied to our reporter and video journalist. Our lawyer was not allowed to be present even via a video link.

2. Our journalist was present with intent to make official enquiries with guard when he was arrested for trespass.

3. A remand copy was not given to furr block any possible legal recourse to ensure our reporting team can exercise ir rights under law.

4. Given freedom of movement and right to report in this country, is Karjat a forbidden zone for journalists who seek to report and put out information in public domain?

sequence of events, nature of action and motivated attempt to silence our reporters who pursue investigative stories reeks of vindictive, malicious and vengeful action by Maharashtra government against Republic Media Network, and its reporters.

Republic Media Network firmly stands by its team and will take every legal recourse available to fight for justice. We will raise this at every forum and campaign till justice is done.