Journalist Assault case: Court dismisses anticipatory bail of AAP Media coordinator as not maintainable

The court noted that all the offences in the FIR are bailable, therefore the anticipatory bail is not maintainable. This case pertains to assaulting a female journalist and video journalist at the AAP office at Rouse Avenue.

Additional Sessions Judge Ram Lal Meena dismissed the anticipatory bail terming it as not maintainable. The court noted the reply of Delhi Police and submissions of the Public Prosecutor. It was stated that the offences in the FIR are bailable as of now.

Vikas Kumar Yogi moved a plea through Advocate Rajat Bhardwaj. It was argued that there is a genuine apprehension of arrest in this case. At the outset, police said that all offences are bailable, application is not maintainable. It was also stated the statement of the complainant female journalist is to be recorded before the court.

Advocate Rajat Bhardwaj submitted that this incident was of May 20, 2024, regarding a forceful entry and misbehaviour by the female journalist and her cameraman.

It was also submitted that before lodging this FIR, a complaint was given by Vikas Kumar Yogi, but the FIR was not lodged. Instead, an FIR was lodged against him which was neither uploaded nor a copy given to him. A copy of the FIR was given to the accused at the direction of the court.

The reply of Delhi Police stated that a custodial interrogation is required to identify the other accused person. The Court said, "If the offence is bailable, then why custodial interrogation is required? As of now, the offences are bailable. We don't know when the new sections will be added."

However, it was clarified by the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) that it was a typographical error. The defence council said, "How it can be a typographical mistake?"

"If offences are bailable, then anticipatory bail is not maintainable," the court said.

The court noted the submissions and said, "All the offences are bailable as of now. Therefore the bail application is not maintainable. It is dismissed as not maintainable."

Two days ago, the FIR registered by Delhi Police against AAP worker Vikas Yogi and others details an incident in which a young woman reporter from Times Now News Channel and a video journalist were allegedly assaulted, and their camera was broken.

It also mentions the use of "derogatory language" and "threats" made at the two employees of Times Now, who were allegedly surrounded by 8-10 people and dragged out of the building. (ANI)