Telugu news channel, ABN Andhrajyothi, has filed a contempt of court petition against the State Government of Andhra Pradesh alleging violation of the Supreme Court order of April 30, which directed India’s federal and the State governments not to clampdown on citizens communicating their grievances related to COVID-19 via social media.

According to a report filed by Bar & Benchlegal website, the plea claimed that a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the petitioner as well as another channel TV5 for reporting remarks by YSR Congress MP, Kannumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju, who criticised the actions of the Chief Minister and the Government of Andhra Pradesh in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FIR was registered for offences of sedition (Section 124A of IPA), creating enmity between religious groups (Section 153A of IPC) .

“The FIR has been filed with the sole purpose of intimidating the media and public of the State and to make it clear that any voice, which the Government of Andhra Pradesh perceives to be critical of its actions or a threat to the image of being in control it is seeking to portray, will be dealt with strictly, by illegally using the police power of the State,” Bar & Bench quoted from the petition.

The petitioner submitted that it has been constrained to file the present contempt petition since the State’s willful and deliberate disobedience of the order of the top court has led to violation of its freedom of speech and expression.

“It would affect these platforms in continuing to cover the Covid-19 Pandemic in an unbiased manner and provide accurate information to the public,” the petition added.

ABN Andhrajyothi is the second TV channel to move the apex court on being slapped with a sedition case.