Journalists appeal to DGP to stop ‘harassment’ by SIT

A delegation of journalists led by office-bearers of the Chennai Press Club met the Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal at his office and sought him to stop harassment of the journalists by the special investigation team (SIT) which is probing the leak of FIR on Anna University sexual assault case. They also sought to return the confiscated mobile phones from a few of them.

In their representation to the DGP, they said several journalists appeared before the SIT in good faith, only to face undue harassment. Instances of harassment include journalists being subjected to intrusive and unrelated personal questioning, including inquiries about their private lives and financial matters.

Journalists were made to wait for hours without any valid reason, and their mobile phones were illegally confiscated. This not only violates their fundamental rights but also raises concerns about potential tampering or manipulation of their data, the representation said.

These actions amount to blatant overreach of police powers and an attempt to intimidate members of the press, they said, adding that journalists were not obstructing the investigation and were willing to cooperate in a lawful and dignified manner.