Shivani Pandey-
Allahabad High Court granted interim protection against detention to Journalist Vineet Narain and his accomplice Rajneesh Kapur.
They were allegedly booked on grounds that Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) lead by Champat Rai and his brothers had seized land from gaushala in Bijnor district.
The Division Bench of Justice Surya Prakash Kesarwani and Justice Piyush Agrawal noticed that skimming of the FIR against the petitioners proved that even if the allegations made by them are taken into consideration, they do not make up for the offence alleged.
It was opined that Prima Facie FIR cannot be sustained in light of the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the State of Haryana and Others v. Bhajan Lal and others.
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The Court said, “Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, as an interim measure it is provided that pursuant to the impugned first information report the petitioners in both the writ petitions shall not be arrested till the next date fixed, i.e. July 27, 2021.”
A complaint had been lodged by Rai’s brother, Sanjay Bansal against Senior journalist Vineet Narain, his accomplice Rajneesh and one Alka Lahoti.
It was explicitly mentioned in the complaint that Rai and his brother grabbed Lahoti’s land were baseless and thus, it was pleaded that an FIR be registered against Narain.
Thereunder, they were named in the FIR at the Nagina police station by Bijnor Police.
Thus, issuing notice to informant respondent no.4, the Court posted the matter for further hearing on July 27.