Punjab HC grants interim bail to Times Now Navbharat reporter Bhawana Kishore, crew

New Delhi: Punjab & Haryana High Court granted interim bail to its Reporter Bhawana Kishore, Cameraman Mrityunjay Kumar and Driver Parminder Singh on Tuesday. 

In its judgment, the Court has commented that both Mritunjay and Parminder’s arrest was illegal and that the provisions of the law were not considered by the arresting police officer and remanding magistrate in the matter. Both of them have been granted further liberty to move the trial court for full bail.

Bhawana Kishore’s interim bail has been extended till the next date of hearing before the High Court on May 22.  

Times Network said that this judgement is a big relief after the ordeal faced by the channel and the trio who have been tormented and harassed in the aftermath of Operation SheeshMahal wherein Times Now Navbharat uncovered details of the ultra-lavish and disproportionate expenditure incurred in refurbishing the official residence of the Delhi CM.

This incident that raised National concern over the gross and deliberate misuse of State powers and malicious use of the SC/ ST Act has gathered tremendous public support. 

Welcoming the judgement, Times Network said that this also reinstates our belief that truth can never be silenced, no matter how devious the oppressors.  

"This is a testament to Times Now Navbharat’s commitment to fearless journalism and we will continue to raise uncomfortable questions to those in power without the fear of consequences," it added.

Narrating the bizarre turn of events on May 5, Times Network said that Bhawana Kishore, cameraman Mrityunjay Kumar and Driver, Parminder Singh, who went to cover a political program presided by Arvind Kejriwal in Ludhiana, were implicated in a staged road accident case and falsely accused of using casteist remarks against a group of women, believed to be AAP workers, who in an e-rickshaw first rammed into the team’s car, got into a brawl and called the Ludhiana police. 

Bhawana Kishore’s illegal arrest violated several rules, including being detained without a lady police officer, arrest post sunset, denial of legal and telephone access and she was forced to sign documents in Gurmukhi, a language she didn't understand, Times Network claimed. 

Mrityunjay who was just a passenger in the car involved in the alleged accident was illegally and unnecessarily detained and has spent 4 nights in Jail in gross disrespect of his dignity as a citizen, the channel said.