NBF Deeply Concerned Over Mumbai Police FIR on Republic TV's Editorial Staff

News Broadcasters Federation (NBF), India’s largest industry association of TV news channels from across length and breadth of country, expresses its deep concern over First Information Report filed by Greater Mumbai Police officials naming editorial staff of one of our member news TV channels – Republic TV.

Filing of an FIR under a harsh and severe law is a drastic and desperate measure against both media as well as common citizens at large.  Journalist(s) performing ir professional duty, within ambit of law, by holding public servants accountable and unravelling truth in public interest should t be chained down by such attempts, as it is a threat to democracy. 

Journalistic freedom should be respected as it forms base of any democracy and Freedom of Speech and Expression as guaranteed under Article 19 (1)(a) of Constitution of India.  We firmly trust process established by law and judiciary. Justice shall prevail.

Greater Mumbai Police officials at NM Joshi Police Station, Mumbai on Friday, October 23, 2020, have filed an FIR naming Republic TV editorial staff accusing m for airing a television news report which amounted to incitement to disaffection among members of police force and defamation of Greater Mumbai Police department.     FIR has been filed on complaint by sub-inspector Shashikant Pawar, who has accused said journalists for an offence under Section (3) of Indian Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922 – a Central law, along with certain sections under Indian Penal Code.
  
News Broadcasters Federation counts Dighvijay, DY365 News, First India Rajasthan, Gulistan News, IBC24, India News, JK 24X7, Living India News, News Live, News Nation, NewsX, rth East Live, Odisha TV, Prag News, MH One News, PuthiyaThalaimurai TV, News First Kannada, Republic Bharat, Republic TV, S Newz, TV5, and Twenty Four News among its members. 

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