HYDERABAD: The SC/ST Atrocities Court on Thursday granted bail to the Andhra Jyoti editor K Srinivas and two other reporters of the paper in the case filed by dalit leaders against them.
K Srinivas and reporters Vamsi and Srinivas were brought to the court for their bail petitions but hearing was adjourned till evening for lack of case material which was not submitted by the police. The government counsel did not oppose the bail following which the editor was granted unconditional bail while the two reporters were granted conditional bail. Both the reporters have to appear at the Jubilee Hills police station every Monday and sign a register.
The arrest of the editor and scribe on Tuesday night allegedly for hurting dalit sentiments had generated a nationwide campaign against the YS Rajasekahra Reddy-led Congress government in the state.
Eminent journalist and president of the Editors Guild Kuldip Nayar called on the chief minister, who was in Delhi, this morning and urged him not to turn become at media criticism. Nayar later said that the Andhra Pradesh police action was in violation of the basic statutes of press freedom in the country.
The chief minister however defended the action of his government. “Police were acting as per law and there were 13 recorded evidences to show their (the scribes’) guilt,” Reddy told Nayar.
He said the government was not opposed to provide bail for the scribes and was not vindictive at all. “I am not wreaking vengeance on the media. It is the newspapers who were vindictive against me personally and my government,” he added.
The media forums and unions of all hues took out a procession in protest against the arrests of the Andhra Jyoti journalists but they were taken into custody and released later. The leaders of the TDP, TRS and Left parties also participated in the journalists’ agitation.
Commenting on the state government’s action against the Telugu daily, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu said the chief minister had behaved like a dictator and that the SC/ST Act was abused to settle score against critics in the media.
