SC gives interim relief from arrest to Vinod Dua in sedition case, refuses to stay probe

In a relief to journalist Vinod Dua, the Supreme Court in a special hearing on Sunday (June 14) ordered that he should not be arrested till July 6 in a sedition case lodged against him in Himachal Pradesh over his YouTube show.

The top court said that Dua will have to join the investigation and there shall be no stay on the ongoing probe undertaken by the Himachal Pradesh police.

A bench of justices UU Lalit, MM Shantanagoudar, and Vineet Saran issued notices to the Centre and the state government and sought their responses within two weeks.

The order came on a plea by Dua seeking quashing of the sedition case.

Based on a complaint by Ajay Shyam, the Mahasu unit president of BJP in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), Dua was charged under sections 124A (sedition), 268 (public nuisance), 501 (printing matter known to be defamatory) and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief).

Shyam in his complaint had alleged that Dua in a 15 minute YouTube show on March 30 had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using “death and terror attacks” to get votes.

While Dua was summoned to Shimla by police for questioning, he was sent a notice on Friday.

(With inputs from agencies)