Journalist Prashant Kanojia walks out of jail, free speech supporters rejoice!

After a little over a fortnight of waiting, the journalist’s bail comes into effect much to the joy of his closest supporter – his wife.

Prashant Kanojia

Free press supporters rejoiced on November 6, 2020 as the Delhi-based freelance journalist finally walked out of jail 15 days after the Allahabad High court granted him bail.

Netizens on Twitter, including the journalist himself jumped for joy on his release. Back in control of his social media accounts, Kanojia thanked the court as well as his supporters for standing by his family through difficult times.

 

 

The journalist was originally granted bail on October 22 after two months of arrest for allegedly morphing and tweeting a photograph of the Ayodhya Ram temple originally posted by a Hindu Army member Sushil Tiwari. Sub-inspector Dinesh Kumar Shukla, who lodged a complaint against the journalist, wrote that Kanojia posted the picture on August 17 to “malign Tiwari’s image” and ensue discord among various communities.

Accordingly, he was arrested by Lucknow’s Hazratganj police on August 18 for various charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act. Kanojia rejected the allegations and claimed he was implicated for ulterior reasons.

Throughout the drawn-out battle with the administration, Konajia’s wife and former journalist Jagisha Arora played a pivotal role breathing life into the movement for his release. Shortly after his arrest, Arora notified the media about police personnel wearing “civilian clothes” who entered their house and arrested her husband.

She recounted how the police had told her “Tweet ka maamla hai. Bohot tweet kiye hain tumney, upar sey orders aaye hain humein, follow toh karna padega.”  (It’s about your tweets. You have tweeted a lot. We have received orders from above, we have to follow them.) Her love and dedication to her companion’s release bore fruit on Friday for which Kanojia thanked her separately.

 

 

While the two still have to fight a legal battle, the duo are not new to facing defamation complaints lodged by the police. Earlier this year in April, Kanojia was booked for allegedly making objectionable comments on social media against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a defamation case against the journalist under the IT Act.

Similarly, in 2019, Kanojia was arrested for making objectionable remarks against Adityanath on virtual platforms. At the time, the state government had arrested him stating that it was required “to send a message” against such provocative messages. However, the Supreme Court granted him bail by saying that Right to Liberty is a fundamental right and that “a person can’t spend 11 days in jail.” 

As had happened last year, journalists, activists and proponents of press freedom continue to support Kanojia for exercising his right to speech. As the day for his hearing approaches, more and more people declared their solidarity with the independent journalist.

 

 

Related:

Will Uttar Pradesh police leave Prashant Kanojia alone now?

Rajasthan PUCL defends free speech of local journalists

HRDA demands investigation into fabricated cases lodged against journalist Manish Soni

Is criticising BJP leaders a crime?

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