The Editors Guild of India on Thursday criticised the arrest warrant against journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta in connection with a defam...
The Editors Guild of India on Thursday criticised the arrest warrant against journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta in connection with a defamation case filed against him by the Adani Group in 2017, and urged the conglomerate to withdraw the case.
The association condemned the use of “intimidatory tactics” against journalists by influential corporate houses. “The issue of a non-bailable warrant by a lower court against Mr Thakurta is another example of how intolerant the business houses have become to any criticism,” it said in a statement. “Routinely they have targeted independent and intrepid journalists by using the very instruments that provide media the necessary protection.”
The Editors Guild noted that corporates were using criminal defamation laws to avoid scrutiny by journalists and the action against Thakurta was an example of that. It added that the judiciary had become a part of the attempts to restrict the freedom of press.
The association spoke about the need to ensure that defamation laws are not used to target independent journalism. “The Editors Guild of India strongly urges the Adani group to withdraw the criminal case against Mr Thakurta,” it said. “We further urge the higher judiciary to take cognizance of the fact that laws such as a criminal defamation are often used to...
