HC reprieve for MP journalist who made sarcastic comment on Padmavati Award

Indore/Neemuch, Dec 29 (IANS) The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday stayed any police action against journalist Jinendra Surana, who had posted a sarcastic comment in social media on the government's announcement to honour a rape victim with Padmavati Award.

According to accused journalist's lawyer Sunil Gupta, the police had on November 25 registered an FIR against Surana -- a resident of Neemuch -- after his social media post went viral.

Protesting against the FIR, Surana filed a petition in the high court bench, and admitting his petition, Justice Vivek Rusia put a halt to any action against the journalist based on the charges made in the FIR.

State Home Minister Bhupendra Singh had reportedly made an announcement to honour the rape victim with the Padmavati Award. Subsequently, on November 24, Surana commented in the social media: "Get raped in Madhya Pradesh to get the Padmavati Award. The government's new announcement."

On Friday, Surana told IANS that taking cognizance of the "objectionable comment", the Khargone police had lodged the FIR on its own.

Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha will be present at the final hearing of the case.

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