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SC Bars Arrest of The Wire Editor and Aligns His Case With BNS Section 152 Challenge

The bench issued notice to the Union and Assam governments to prepare responses ahead of a constitutional review of Section 152’s sweeping provisions.

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Overview

  • The Supreme Court’s interim order shields The Wire editor Siddharth Varadarajan and colleagues from arrest under Section 152 of the BNS in FIR No. 181/2025.
  • While barring coercive measures by Assam Police, the court directed the petitioners to cooperate with investigations into their Operation Sindoor article.
  • The bench consolidated The Wire’s plea with a parallel challenge by retired General S.G. Vombatkere and summoned responses from the Centre and Assam government.
  • The justices examined whether Section 152’s expansive wording and potential for state abuse warrant striking down the provision as vague and chilling to free speech.
  • Emphasizing press freedom, the court declared that reporting by journalists does not prima facie amount to sedition and typically does not justify custodial interrogation.