Delhi High Court Orders Protection To Journalist Who Alleged Physical Assault By Madhya Pradesh Police

Amarkant Singh Chouhan, a journalist and Bhind Bureau Chief of Swaraj Express news channel, on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection from the alleged threats to his life from Madhya Pradesh police officials.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja directed the Delhi Police to grant protection to Chouhan for two months, and asked the journalist to approach the concerned High Court in the meantime for availing further legal remedies.

Advocate Warisha Farasat appeared for Chouhan and submitted that the journalist was physically assaulted and harassed by the Madhya Pradesh police.

She further submitted that the journalist has fled Madhya Pradesh fearing for his life and has filed complaints with the Press Club of India and the NHRC on the issue.

As Farasat prayed that status report be called from Delhi Police as well as the Madhya Pradesh police, the Court orally remarked that for any grievance concerning the Madhya Pradesh police, the journalist will have to move the jurisdictional High Court.

“We will give you protection. In the meantime, approach the jurisdictional High Court and take your remedies there,” the judge remarked.

The Court disposed of the plea, asking Farasat to furnish the details of the concerned police station where the journalist is staying. The Court also said that Chouhan's number be shared with the concerned beat officer and SHO.

Farasat only pressed for the prayer of seeking protection from the Delhi Police. The plea also sought initiation of prompt and impartial action and investigation against the Bhind SP and his subordinates. However, the said prayer was not pressed.

Along with Farasat, Advocates Tamanna Pankaj, Anirudh Ramanathan and Priya Vats appeared for Chouhan.

In his plea, Chouhan said that he recently reported about the illegal sand mining activities in the Chambal River that are carried out by the sand mafia in connivance with the local police. The plea alleged that he was called by Bhind SP in his chambers where he was physically assaulted and battered.

The petition alleged that Chouhan, along with other journalists including one Sashikant Jatav, were stripped down to their undergarments before being physically assaulted and battered.

Chouhan alleged that he and Jatav were once again summoned by Bhind SP at his office, where they were forced to record a video statement in the presence of other police officials, stating that all matters between them and the Madhya Pradesh police had been "resolved".

As per the petition, faced with continuous harassment at the hands of Bhind Police, both the journalists came to Delhi and now are unable to return to Madhya Pradesh due to reasonable threats to their life and personal liberty.

Title: Amarkant Singh Chouhan v. State of NCT of Delhi & Ors.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 636