Guwahati Police summons ‘The Wire’ editor, says SC protection in case filed in another district

The Crime Branch in Guwahati has issued a summons to The Wire’s founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan in a first information report pertaining to an article on Operation Sindoor.

The summons, issued on August 12, came despite the Supreme Court granting protection from arrest to Varadarajan and members of the foundation running the news outlet in another FIR filed by the Assam Police.

Ankur Jain, the joint commissioner of police in Guwahati, told Scroll that the summons was issued as the Supreme Court order had come on a case filed in “some other district”.

In the latest notice, Varadarajan has been directed to appear before the investigating officer at the Crime Branch Police Station in Panbazar on August 22 at 11.30 am.

The earlier case against Varadarajan was registered at Morigaon police station on July 11 under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

It followed the publication of an article about Operation Sindoor titled “‘IAF Lost Fighter Jets to Pak Because of Political Leadership’s Constraints’: Indian Defence Attache”.

The fresh summons issued to Varadarajan cites the same charges, in addition to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to promoting enmity between different groups, publishing false or misleading information and criminal conspiracy.

On August...

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