Kerala Police Allegedly Disrupt Broadcast, Seize Journalists' Devices at Reporter TV Office
New Delhi: The Kerala Police on Wednesday (September 16) carried out early-morning raids at the Reporter TV office in Kalamassery, Kochi and seized the devices of journalists who were in the newsroom. The police also reportedly forcibly removed the channel's news editor from his seat in order to search and seize his desk and devices.
The Reporter Broadcasting Company, which runs Reporter TV, is headed by the Augustine brothers – Anto Augustine and Joskutty Augustine.
The search was conducted by the special investigation team (SIT) probing alleged financial irregularities and tax evasion relating to a planned event when the Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and others from the team were supposed to visit the state last year. According to SouthFirst, the SIT has registered an FIR at the Kalamassery police station, invoking charges including cheating, fraud and conspiracy. Reporter Broadcasting Company and Anto Augustine have been named as the accused in the case. Five locations, including the Kochi and Wayanad residences of the Augustine brothers, were searched.
In a statement released later on Wednesday, Anto Augustine called the police action at the Reporter TV office a "despicable assault on press freedom". The statement also says that while the police claimed to have a search warrant for the administrative block of the building, they instead focused on the newsroom and even seized the personal mobile phones of on-duty journalists. "Journalists were filmed and intimidated, creating an atmosphere of terror inside a functioning newsroom," the statement continues. Journalists at Reporter TV told The Wire that approximately 70 mobile phones were seized.
The police action in the newsroom began around 5 am and lasted for 1.5 hours. Live news broadcast on Reporter TV was disrupted during this period, the statement says.
The police have claimed that no personal devices were seized and live news was not disrupted. “After the SIT was formed, we had ordered a preliminary probe. We had collected the reports from the sports department and collected necessary statements. As we prima facie believe there is a cognizable offence in the matter, an FIR was registered and a search warrant secured from the magistrate’s court. Anto Augustine is the first accused and RBC is the second accused. We have not disrupted the news telecast. We have not seized the mobile phones of any journalists as alleged. We have also videographed the entire process,” ADGP P. Vijayan said, according to The Indian Express.
The media group has also said that the police action was clearly meant at silencing the media and not at furthering the investigation it was supposedly a part of. "The case relates to the proposed Messi / Argentina football event, a matter that is sub-judice and where we have been fully cooperating with all statutory authorities, including tax authorities. To use this as a pretext to raid a newsroom at 5 AM, to enter the editorial floor, to physically remove a News Editor from his chair and seize journalists' tools of trade, is reminiscent of Emergency-era tactics. This has never happened in the history of Kerala," Anto Augustine's statement says.
"Reporter TV will not be cowed down. We will continue to report, to question, and to stand with the people. No amount of intimidation will stop us from doing our duty as the Fourth Pillar of democracy," it continues.
Former Kerala chief minister and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan too has condemned the action. Calling it "aggression reminiscent of the Emergency era” and a “despicable assault on press freedom”, he demanded answers from the state's chief minister and home minister.
The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
