PCI seeks report from C'garh govt on sedition charge against scribe

The Press Council of India (PCI) today said it had sought a report from the Chhattisgarh government on the filing of a sedition case against a scribe for sharing on a social media site a cartoon that allegedly carried a derogatory reference to the judiciary and the government.

Kamal Shukla, the editor of 'Bhumkal Samachar' published from Kanker district, had earlier said the cartoon he shared on Facebook was related to the Supreme Court's observation on the alleged mysterious death of Judge BH Loya.

PCI chairman has noted with concern reports of filing sedition case against the journalist/editor of Bhumkal Samachar Kamal Shukla for allegedly posting a cartoon lampooning the country's judiciary and government on Facebook," the PCI said in a release.

The council said it had sought a written reply from the state government on the issue.

Taking suo-motu cognisance of the issue, a report on the fact of the case has been called along with written reply from the Chhattisgarh government through the chief secretary, secretary (Home), director general of Police and superintendent of Police, Kanker, the PCI said in the release.

The Chhattisgarh Police had on Monday charged the journalist with sedition.

A case has been registered against Kamal Shukla under Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code with Kotwali police station of Kanker district on the complaint of a Rajasthan-based person, Superintendent of Police KL Dhurv had said.

On April 19, the apex court dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into the death of Judge Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.