HC seeks state reply to plea seeking police protection by reporter “assaulted” near Pune

The plea also sought transfer of investigation to Pune City Police or Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The court said that the reporter would have to pay for the police protection if granted as per state’s policy.

The HC also remarked that whoever is reporting something against them (violators), they try to harass them.

A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing plea by Barve, argued through senior advocate Mihir Desai and advocate Devyani Kulkarni, who sought protection for her life claiming that after the incident on July 4, the accused persons and their associates, who are out on bail threatened her on three different occasions that they will kill her

The petitioner claimed police did not take any steps to inquire into the death threats and provide her police protection and register FIR for criminal intimidation.

Besides seeking police protection, the plea also sought transfer of probe into July 4 FIR from Manchar Police station to any police station in Pune city or formation of SIT and that her statement be recorded on camera under section 183 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita.

Pending disposal of the plea, the petitioner sought that the accused and their associates be restrained from contacting her or her family or friends in any manner.

“You have to pay for the police personnel deputed with you for your personal protection,” the bench orally told Barve’s lawyer.

When Desai said the quantum of charges be as per state’s policy, CJ Chandrashekhar said, “They will decide it. We cannot fix the terms of the deployment. Whatever is there you have to pay.”

Desai further said that she was “beaten up very badly” and “was nearly killed” and there were further threats to her.

“So what is the evidence you have produced in support of this petition? You are before a writ court and have to produce evidence. You should have filed an affidavit of those persons also who have witnessed (the incident and threats). This is the procedure. This petition is completely incompetent with merely a statement and nothing else,” the bench orally remarked.

Desai submitted the petitioner will produce on record the evidence including video of her being threatened and reiterated there was “threat to her life.”

“That is the reason we are granting indulgence. But then, let us not forget the rules of pleadings…We have this understanding that they are doing it with the journalists. Whoever is reporting something against them, they try to harass them,” CJ Chandrashekhar remarked and sought the state’s response by next hearing on September 29.