कोलकाता उच्च न्यायालय ने 'सफ़रन होलीगनिज़्म' शीर्षक पर अनंदाबज़र पत्रिका के पत्रकारों को गिरफ्तारी से बचाया

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Calcutta High Court Protects Anandabazar Patrika Journalists From Arrest Over 'Saffron Hooliganism' Headline

Srinjoy Das

24 Sept 2026 1:45 PM IST

The Calcutta High Court has directed police authorities not to take any coercive steps against journalists of Bengali newspaper Anandabazar Patrika in connection with FIRs arising out of the channel's use of the headline “Gerua Gundami” (saffron hooliganism), till December 15.Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya passed the direction while hearing the plea moved by the journalists seeking...

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The Calcutta High Court has directed police authorities not to take any coercive steps against journalists of Bengali newspaper Anandabazar Patrika in connection with FIRs arising out of the channel's use of the headline “Gerua Gundami” (saffron hooliganism), till December 15.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya passed the direction while hearing the plea moved by the journalists seeking protection from arrest in connection with the criminal proceedings.

The FIRs stemmed from the use of the expression “Gerua Gundagiri” while reporting on violence at Jadavpur University, allegedly involving students of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Federation of Engineering and Technical Students' Unions (FETSU). The headline had also drawn objections from CM Suvendu Adhikari.

The matter had earlier come before the High Court seeking urgent intervention. Senior Advocate S.N. Mookherjee had sought urgent hearing and relief, submitting that journalists had been accused of attempting to incite communal interest. He had also referred to “three incidents” and sought the Court's intervention, stating that “two senior ladies have been hauled up.”

The plea was initially not given a special listing before the Chief Justice's Bench. The Court observed that several quashing matters were already pending and directed that the matter be filed in the regular course, while leaving it open to the counsel to mention it subsequently if necessary.

At a subsequent hearing before Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, the State, represented by AAG Rajdeep Majumdar, had assured the Court that no coercive steps would be taken against the journalists, subject to their cooperation with notices issued by the investigating authorities.

Senior Advocates S.N. Mookherjee and Sandipan Ganguly, assisted by Advocates Arunabha Deb and Ashika Daga, appeared for the journalists.

The petitioners had challenged the criminal proceedings, raising concerns over the action against the journalists in connection with the headline used while reporting on the university violence.

The matter will be taken up again on December 1.

Case: Ishani Datta Ray v State of West Bengal

Srinjoy Das

Srinjoy Das is a Principal Correspondent with LiveLaw, covering the Calcutta High Court

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