Free Speech Collective files Contempt of Court plea in the Supreme Court over police detention of journalists
Free Speech Collective (FSC) has filed a contempt plea in the Supreme Court of India over the Delhi police’s detention of more than 20 journalists and restrictions on their work on October 11, 2026, in clear violation of the Supreme Court’s order that they should be allowed to do their professional work without any obstruction.
The journalists were covering the protests to demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Journalists were picked up, dragged and forcibly lifted into police vans despite displaying their press cards. They were detained and released hours later.
The plea sought the identification of the police personnel and the officers responsible for the violence against journalists and the disclosure of how the Court’s direction was communicated to personnel deployed on the ground.
(Read the Contempt plea here.)
The contempt plea drew attention to the continued detention of journalists and removal from several protest spots, including at RK Ashram Marg, Connaught Place and elsewhere even after the Court’s direction. The plea said that journalists detained included those associated with Scroll, Newslaundry, Reuters, Business Standard, BOOMLive, India Today, The News Minute, Maktoob Media, The Indian Express, PTI, The Quint, The Hindu, Peek TV, Reporter TV, 24 News and Asianet News and independent journalists.
Journalist Nidhi Suresh of The News Minute was taken away in a police vehicle and remained detained until about 6:30 pm. Three Indian Express Hindi journalists – Shashwat, Siya and Vijay – were detained by police at Connaught Place though they showed their press cards. Journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta was herded into a vehicle while he was giving an interview.
In a special sitting on Sunday, October 11, 2026, a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana clearly laid down that “Lawyers, journalists and other professionals shall not be hindered in discharge of their professional duties in any manner whatsoever.”
In a separate writ petition, Free Speech Collective has sought an independent inquiry into the police violence against journalists.
The petition sought urgent enforcement of the fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(d) and 21. It challenges not merely isolated obstruction, but an asserted course of police action comprising unlawful detention, forcible removal, physical assault, manhandling, intimidation, disregard of press credentials and the calculated exclusion and removal of journalists from places where public power was being exercised.
The petition stated that: “Unless restrained by law and judicial review, such conduct converts the constitutional freedom of the press into a paper guarantee.”
The petition has sought a time-bound inquiry and action against police personnel responsible, preservation of CCTV footage and detention records.
Both petitions were filed through Advocate Aarthi Rajan.
In a separate writ petition, the Network of Women in Media India (NWMI ) has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court over the assault and arbitrary detention of women journalists by Delhi Police while reporting on October 10–11, seeking enforceable safeguards for police-media interactions during protests.
The Contempt plea and the petitions are expected to come up for hearing tomorrow.
Lawfare
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