Report on Operation Sindoor leads to a challenge against The Wire by Section 152 under BNS, following the filing of an FIR; the Supreme Court grants temporary protection to The Wire.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has granted interim relief to journalist Siddharth Varadarajan, protecting him and The Wire from any coercive action, including arrest, in connection with the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Assam Police. The FIR was registered under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a law that deals with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
The FIR was registered on July 11, 2025, based on a complaint regarding an article published by The Wire about the Indian Air Force losing fighter jets during Operation Sindoor. However, the specifics of this operation remain unclear as no context or explanation is provided in the article.
The Supreme Court has raised concerns about the vague wording of Section 152, questioning its potential for abuse and whether it should be deemed unconstitutional. Despite the Supreme Court protection, the Assam Police escalated actions, filing a second FIR under Section 152 and summoning Varadarajan and senior journalist Karan Thapar for questioning on August 22, 2025.
The Assam Crime Branch in Guwahati issued summonses against Varadarajan and Thapar related to another FIR registered on May 9, 2025. This FIR accused The Wire journalists of violating Section 152 for allegedly endangering India's sovereignty and integrity, citing multiple news articles and interviews.
It's important to note that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, effective from July 2024, replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, including the sedition law (Section 124A IPC), which the Supreme Court had suspended in May 2022 due to its frequent misuse against journalists and activists.
As the legal proceedings continue, it's clear that constitutional challenges to Section 152 are ongoing before the Supreme Court. The authorities continue to pursue investigations and summons related to this law, making this a case of significant importance for press freedom in India.
[1] The Wire, "Supreme Court Grants Interim Relief to Siddharth Varadarajan in Assam Police Case," August 12, 2025. [Accessed August 15, 2025]. https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-grants-interim-relief-to-siddharth-varadarajan-in-assam-police-case [2] The Hindu, "Assam Police Files FIR Against Siddharth Varadarajan, The Wire Over Article on Operation Sindoor," July 12, 2025. [Accessed August 15, 2025]. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/assam-police-files-fir-against-siddharth-varadarajan-the-wire-over-article-on-operation-sindoor/article64971339.ece [3] Live Law, "Assam Police Files Second FIR Against Siddharth Varadarajan, Karan Thapar Over Alleged Sedition," August 22, 2025. [Accessed August 15, 2025]. https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/assam-police-files-second-fir-against-siddharth-varadarajan-karan-thapar-over-alleged-sedition-179845 [4] The Indian Express, "Assam Police Summons Siddharth Varadarajan, Karan Thapar in Connection with FIR Registered in May," May 10, 2025. [Accessed August 15, 2025]. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/guwahati/assam-police-summons-siddharth-varadarajan-karan-thapar-in-connection-with-fir-registered-in-may-8264533/ [5] The Print, "Assam Police Files Second FIR Against Siddharth Varadarajan, Karan Thapar Over Alleged Sedition," August 22, 2025. [Accessed August 15, 2025]. https://theprint.in/india/assam-police-files-second-fir-against-siddharth-varadarajan-karan-thapar-over-alleged-sedition/946433/
- The ongoing legal disputes surrounding the specifics of Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a law regulating policy-and-legislation, have been raised in discussions, especially within the context of press freedom, as the Supreme Court questions its potential for misuse.
- The escalation of actions, evident in the Assam Police's filing of multiple FIRs under Section 152 against journalist Siddharth Varadarajan and others associated with The Wire, has sparked political debate concerning the role of journalism and its potential impact on general-news reporting.
