Thread by @barandbench

Asianet News moves Kerala High Court seeking police protection after SFI workers had forcibly entered its Kochi office. Matter to be heard today by Justice N Nagaresh.

#AsianetNews #Kerala

The matter has been taken up.

Advocate for Asianet : on March 3, kochi offices were ransacked. Almost all asianet offices are receiving phone threats also.

Justice Nagaresh: but don't all news channels and papers get calls like that saying it was fake news etc?

Justice Nagaresh: have you filed complaints regarding any of the telephonic threats?

Adv takes the court through some complaints Asianet has filed

Justice Nagaresh: what other than telephonic and social media threats have you faced ?

Adv : instead of providing protection, Police raided Kozhikode office on Sunday March 5. Please see the FIR

He reads out from the FIR

Adv : Asianet is very very careful with its programming. It was an effort to conceal the identity of the minor girl

Justice Nagaresh: was a crime registered after the incident on March 3 ( SFI protest)

Justice Nagaresh: have you filed any police complaints or requests for protection?

#AsianetNews

Adv: Kochi, Kozhikode and Trivandrum offices are getting threatened on phone. If there is an apprehension of violence let them please provide protection

Justice Nagaresh: yes, if there is a likelihood of violence, you should give protection in advance

Justice Nagaresh dictates order

" The petitioner contents that a large number of telephonic threats are made by persons who are inimical to the channel. It is contended that there is an apprehension of violence"

"GP submitted that the regional office of petitioners office we're blocked by persons and out of the accused, 8 persons have been arrested and others will also be brought before law. Police authorities have acted responsibly and without bias and will continue to do so "

"In view of the nature of reliefs, notice to respondents 7,8 are dispensed with. It is evident from the material that there were protests against a news program aired by the petitioner and some persons entered the petitioners office and disrupted it's functioning"

HC ORDER : " "A crime has also been registered according to the GP and investigation is underway"

HC ORDER : Be that as it may, the incident has attained political colours and there are protests against the petitioners unit and it is likely that there will be further protests against the petitioner which may turn violent"

#AsianetNews

HC ORDER: if that be the case, the respondents are bound to give effective protection to the units of the petitioner at Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram

#AsianetNews

HC ORDER: in the circumstances the writ petition is disposed of directing the respondents 1 to 5 that if the petitioner informs apprehension of any violence from the protestors and seeks police assistance, ...

#AsianetNews

HC ORDER: ...the police shall deploy sufficient number of officers to maintain law and order and keep off violence. the writ petition is disposed of as above

#AsianetNews #breaking

Counsel for Asianet news : protection also my lord

Justice Nagaresh: that is what this is. Do you want police there all the time 365 days? You give a complaint whenever there are protests and dharnas

Hearing ends