An RTI activist and three journalists have knocked on the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking the dismissal of a police case registered against them. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed for allegedly spreading misinformation concerning the use of the Punjab Chief Minister's official helicopter.
Legal Challenge Against Cybercrime FIR
In their petition before the high court, the group has challenged FIR No. 67 registered at the Cybercrime Police Station in Ludhiana. The police invoked sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to public mischief, promotion of disharmony, and criminal conspiracy.
The petitioners argue that the case stems from a legitimate inquiry into the use of a public resource. The controversy began when Manik Goyal, an RTI activist and law student, used publicly accessible flight-tracking data from an internet platform. He raised questions online about the movement of the helicopter allotted to the Chief Minister on December 8, a day when the CM was on an official visit to Japan.
Journalistic Reporting and Alleged Intimidation
The issue gained significant traction after journalists Baljinder Singh (alias Mintu Gurusaria), Maninderjeet Singh, and Mandeep Singh Makkar reported on Goyal's findings. They highlighted the lack of an official clarification from the government regarding who used the state aircraft during the CM's absence.
The petitioners maintain that their actions were part of legitimate journalistic inquiry and public-interest reporting. They contend that raising questions on the use of public resources and sharing publicly available information is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. They have alleged that the FIR is "mala fide" and intended to intimidate journalists and suppress dissent.
Background of Denied Information and Pending Hearing
The petition also revealed a pattern of information denial. It pointed out that Goyal had filed RTI applications earlier in 2024 seeking details of government expenditure on aircraft. These requests were denied by authorities, who cited security exemptions. Despite filing appeals, no information was furnished, which prompted the reliance on open-source flight-tracking data.
Notably, the FIR was registered on a complaint by Police Inspector Satbir Singh and did not cite any private complainant. While the FIR acknowledged that the helicopter did fly on the stated date and was used by a "constitutional functionary," it did not disclose the identity of the person or the purpose of the flights.
The matter is expected to be taken up by the high court next week. Along with seeking the quashing of the FIR, the petitioners have also requested a stay on any further police proceedings while the case is pending before the court.
