The Allahabad High Court has refused to grant bail to a journalist, who was accused of extortion and propagating ‘hate speech’ against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Manju Rani Chauhan also made detailed comments on misuse of platforms by publishers for personal gain, the value of constructive criticism and the need to uphold secular principles.
Accused Amit Maurya allegedly demanded monthly payments from the informant, the Vice President of the Purvanchal Truck Owners Association, and threatened to publish damaging articles against him.
The journalist was also stated to have used social media to make derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and a few religious figures.
The single-judge Bench observed that it was entirely unacceptable for the publishers to exploit their platforms for personal gain as it not only undermined the integrity of journalism, but also eroded public trust in the media.
The High Court said that exploiting one’s position in the media landscape to extract benefits or coerce individuals through threats tarnished the integrity of journalism. Such actions not only betrayed the trust bestowed upon the media by the public, but also undermined the very essence of democratic principles.
The Bench further took exception to the use of personal remarks and abusive language against individuals, particularly public figures like the Prime Minister or Chief Minister.
Terming it as reprehensible and antithetical to the principles of civil discourse, the Bench observed that although dissent and criticism were important in a democratic society, they must be expressed in a manner that upheld the dignity and respect for all.
Resorting to derogatory language and personal attacks served no constructive purpose and only served to inflame tensions and undermine the fabric of civil society, it added.