The Calcutta High today granted anticipatory bail to three senior officials of a Nepali language news channel who were accused of promoting enmity between classes in connection with a news report.
A division bench comprising Justices Dipankar Dutta and D P Ray allowed the anticipatory bail prayers of ABN News Network's CEO, HR head and news head based in Siliguri.
Praying for their anticipatory bail, counsel Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee submitted that the channel had aired the news of a 'khukri' (a sharp weapon Gorkhas carry as part of their custom) procession' by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters in Darjeeling hills at the funeral of a man claimed to be an activist of the party.
Chatterjee said the news clip had been uploaded by some people on Youtube and Facebook, eliciting some comments against the West Bengal government.
He submitted that cases relating to promoting enmity among classes and Cable TV Regulation Act were slapped against CEO Swapnanil Chatterjee, HR head Tulsi Raman and news head Mahendra Thapa at Bhaktinagar police station in Siliguri and at Jalpaiguri Kotwali police station.
Praying for their anticipatory bail, Chatterjee submitted they had no role in the comments written by some persons on the social networking sites. He also said the channel iteself did not carry any derogatory content.
The counsel for the state opposed their anticipatory bail prayer, claiming the channel deliberately tried to promote enmity between two communities and create unrest.
After hearing both the parties, the division bench granted anticipatory bail to all the three accused.
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