On 11th June, a bench of the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court consisting of Justice Ranjeev Singh granted interim bail to a journalist and others who were accused of trying to destroy ballot boxes and firing during the panchayat poll election in Uttar Pradesh.

Facts of the case:

The present bail application had been filed on behalf of the applicant who were charged under Sections 147, 148, 149, 395, 397, 332, 353, 504, 506, 427, 336, 307, 34 I.P.C., Section 7 Crl. Law Amendment Act and Section 131, 132 (3), 135 (A) Peoples Representation Act, Police StationKandhai, District-Pratapgarh, with the prayer to enlarge them on anticipatory bail. They were accused of creating disturbances during the UP Panchayat election.

Contentions of the applicant:

The submissions of learned counsel for the applicants were the following:

  1. The applicants were innocent persons and had been falsely implicated in the case as they were reporting the news about irregularity on the polling booth by the authorities and influential people through twitter handle.
  2. He further submitted that due to coverage, the authorities were annoyed and police personal reached on the spot and started beating the voters when objection was raised.
  3. It was also contended that that general allegation of firing is alleged against the villagers and police is trying to arrest the applicants due to annoyance as the applicant No.1 was covering the activities of the police personal and also flashing the same on the twitter handle.

Contention of the respondent:

Learned A.G.A. opposed the prayer of applicants and submitted the as per the FIR and instructions, the villagers along with the applicants tried to destroy the ballot box and firing was also done by the villagers, therefore, applicants were not entitled for anticipatory bail.

Order of the Court:

The court observed that it is evident that mismanagement of the authorities was flash on twitter by the applicant No.1 who is the journalist and other applicant is related to him, therefore, the applicants are entitled for interim bail.

It was further directed that the applicants would join and participate in each and every aspect of Investigation and would lend full assistance to the Investigating Agency.

Read Order @Latestlaws.com

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