Chennai Press Club: Seizure of scribes’ phones during AU probe an act of intimidation

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere in the matter of the seizure of mobile phones of journalists.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai speaks.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai speaks.(Photo | Ashwin Prasath, EPS)
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CHENNAI: The seizure of mobile phones and other devices from law-abiding reporters during the Special Investigation Team’s probe of the FIR leak in the rape of an Anna University student is an intimidation tactic deployed by the police department, the Chennai Press Club said in a statement on Wednesday.

This is also a means to thwart the sources the reporters have built over several years, the statement said, calling for the immediate return of the mobile phones seized from reporters who were cooperating with the probe by all means.

The press club said the summons in many cases was issued only through WhatsApp. Even so, reporters chose to appear for the investigation considering the gravity of the case and due to their respect for the law.

“We have been informed that these reporters were made to wait for long hours, treated like criminals and were asked questions irrelevant to this investigation,” the statement said, adding in the case of some reporters, mobile phones and other personal devices were seized.

“The police should immediately stop the intimidation and harassment of reporters who appear for the investigation due to their respect for the legal process,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere in the matter of seizure of mobile phones of journalists.

When advocate AP Suryaprakasam mentioned the issue in the high court, a division bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and M Jothiraman said that it cannot issue any directions as a detailed order was already passed. The bench also advised the advocate to approach the Supreme Court as the case pending before it.

Do not shoot the messenger: Annamalai

Chennai: Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, BJP state president K Annamalai said it is foolish to dig into the phones of reporters to identify the source of the leak (of the FIR), calling it is a reflection of the DMK’s attitude against print media. “Even if one reporter is threatened in this way, it will lead to a situation where journalists will hesitate to bring out any information about what is happening in the state,” he said. A journalist can have multiple sources and their work is to bring out information. In India, we don’t ask them to reveal their sources, he said.

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