Calcutta High Court Granted Bail To Republic TV Journalist Arrested In Sandeshkhali; Govt Held Accountable By A Free Press

The Calcutta High Court in the case Santu Pan v State Of West Bengal And Ors observed and has granted bail to journalist Santu Pan, who was being arrested while reporting live from Sandeshkhali, in West Bengal for Republic TV on February 19, 2024.
It has also been alleged by the state authorities before the court that the journalist was being arrested for outraging the modesty of a woman by entering her home while reporting.

However, the journalist denied these charges, thus, it has been claimed that his arrest came since he was ‘exposing the truth’ in Sandeshkhali.
The bench headed by single bench of Justice Kaushik Chanda in the case observed and has granted bail.
The court in the case observed that the Republic TV has hailed the decision of the Court as a ‘vindication’ on their official YouTube channel.

Therefore, Sandeshkhali has been a hotbed of unrest ever since a team of Enforcement Directorate, ED officers was being attacked when they were on their way to raid the residence of local leader Shahjahan Sheikh in connection with the multi-crore ration scam.
The Division bench headed by Chief Justice Sivagnanam in the case observed and has taken cognizance of events in the area and has expressed dismay at the lack of effort shown by the State police in arresting the ‘sole cause of the problem’ Shahjahan Sheikh.
The single bench of High Court in the case observed and has stayed the section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure, CrPC order imposed in the area, in order to alleviate the ‘heart-wrenching atrocities suffered by the people.’

However, LoP Suvendu Adhikari had sought and has received the conditional permission from the High Court in order to interact with the people of the violence-stricken areas.