The Hindu will approach the Andhra Pradesh High Court, seeking quashing of the FIR issued against its Resident Editor S. Nagesh Kumar for publishing a report about >Andhra Pradesh DGP V. Dinesh Reddy’s visit to a ‘godman’ in the old city .
There was, however, no development in the police case on Wednesday as the FIR could not be sent to the local court since personnel at the Panjagutta police station, where it was issued, were busy with security arrangements for immersion of Ganesh idols.
Meanwhile, several individuals and people’s organisations have criticised the abuse of power by police against The Hindu . The Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists Federation appealed to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy to intervene and direct police officials to withdraw the “illegal” case.
The special rapporteur to the National Human Rights Commission and former IAS officer, K.R. Venugopal, said it was unwarranted, totally unjustified and colourable action of the State government done with a view to intimidate The Hindu . Bangalore-based journalist A.S. Bhasker Raj said he would write a letter to the DGP, saying there was no falsehood in the report.
