Version imprimablePress Statement
January 31, 2025
The Editors Guild of India is concerned by the reports that Chennai police has seized the mobile phones and electronic devices of several journalists, as part of investigations into a sexual assault of a student in the city. As per reports, the First Information Report (FIR) was available on a government website, and some journalists had downloaded the report in pursuit of professional work.
While the Guild adheres to the principle and the law that media cannot divulge any personal details of a victim of a sexual assault, we are also concerned by the manner in which investigation against journalists is being conducted by the Chennai police.
It has come to our notice that the summons were sent to journalists through WhatsApp, which as the Supreme Court has ruled as an invalid means of serving the legal notices. Further, the journalists have claimed that the questioning was intrusive.
The Guild demands the Chennai police immediately return all the devices of journalists, and to conduct the investigation in a manner not prejudicial to rights of journalists and press freedom.
In 2023, the Supreme Court, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Foundation for Media Professionals (FMP), had instructed the central government to frame guidelines regarding search and seizure of digital devices of individuals, specifically journalists, in view of privacy threats and security of sensitive journalists
