[Sedition] Rajasthan High Court first to follow Supreme Court order; protects News18's Aman Chopra from Section 124A

Pursuant to the Supreme Court's order this morning keeping all pending sedition matters in abeyance, the Rajasthan High Court has barred the Investigation Officer (IO) from looking into allegations covered by Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code against News18 journalist Aman Chopra in relation to the Alwar riots [Aman Chopra vs State of Rajasthan]..This order was made after senior counsel Sidharth Luthra and advocate Mrinal Bharti appearing for Chopra brought the top court's decision to the notice of Justice Dinesh Mehta. "He (the IO) shall, however, not investigate the matter for allegations covered by Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code.".Chopra was booked for allegedly instigating communal riots in Alwar district of Rajasthan on April 22.The allegation against Chopra was that the comments made by him while anchoring a television programme "Desh Jhukne Nhi Denge", which was also posted on his Twitter account, resulted in communal disharmony and riots.Three separate FIRs were registered against him in connection with the same..The first FIR was registered at Bichwada, second at a police station in Bundi Sadar on the same day while a third FIR was instituted at the Kotwali Police Station in Alwar.Chopra moved Court apprehending arrest in view of three separate FIRs. He contended that investigation in two subsequent FIRs must not be allowed to proceed as they were lodged maliciously just to harass him.Chopra was on May 8 granted protection from arrest till May 10 in two of the three First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against him..On Tuesday, the judge said that he would view the video recording of the news programme in order to decide the anticipatory bail plea. .When the matter was taken up today, the counsel informed the court that the apex court has passed an interim order directing the Central and State governments to refrain from registering any FIRs under Section 124A, and keep all pending matters in abeyance during the period Section 124A is being reexamined by Centre..The order of the top court passed by a bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli directed that all pending trials, appeals and proceedings with respect to charges framed under Section 124A shall be kept in abeyance. However, adjudication in such trials with respect to other offences can proceed, the top court said..The single-judge, on considering the submissions, said that an investigation including an interrogation was necessary before any concrete conclusion could be arrived at with regard to the petitioner's involvement in the offences. Therefore, the petitioner was directed to appear before the IO on May 16.However, the Court made it clear that the IO would not investigate the matter for allegations covered by Section 124A. It was also made clear that, in the meantime, the petitioner would not be arrested in any FIR filed or likely to be filed concerning the programme aired on 22 April..The case was listed for further hearing on May 20. .Senior Advocates Sidharth Luthra and Manoj Bhandari along with advocates Mrinal Bharti and Achintya Kaushik, Nishank Madhan and Aniket Tater appeared for the petitioner.The respondents were represented by Special Public Prosecutor P Vinit Jain, assisted by advocates Pravin Vyas, AAG cum GA Anil Joshi, Public Prosecutor Gaurav Singh, Public Prosecutor Sharvan Bishnoi, Public Prosecutor Laxman Bishnoi, Public Prosecutor Vikram Sharma, Advocates Aditya Pratap Singh, Harsh Vardhan Singh and GS Chouhan..[Read Order]