Supreme Court Orders Police Protection for Discovery Officials Amid Threats from Asaram Bapu's Supporters
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Synopsis
The Supreme Court of India has granted police protection to officials of Discovery+ following threats from Asaram Bapu's supporters after the release of a controversial documentary. The court's interim order aims to ensure the safety of the officials amid ongoing intimidation and violent threats.
Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court orders police protection for Discovery+ officials.
- Threats arose after the release of the documentary 'Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu?'.
- Asaram Bapu is currently serving a life sentence for serious crimes.
- Supporters of Asaram have engaged in criminal intimidation and threats.
- The court has issued a notice to police to ensure safety.
New Delhi, Feb 6 (NationPress) The Supreme Court issued an interim order on Thursday, providing police protection to officials of the OTT platform Discovery+ following threats from groups identifying themselves as supporters of Asaram Bapu. This came in the wake of the documentary series 'Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu?' being released.
A bench comprising CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar considered a plea from high-ranking officials of the OTT platform requesting police safeguards for themselves, their teams, and others in similar circumstances.
“This protection is necessary due to threats and intimidation from groups claiming to be supporters, fans, followers, or devotees of Asaram Bapu, following the airing of the documentary series 'Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu?' on Discovery+,” the petition explained.
The documentary delves into the life of Asaram Bapu, a self-proclaimed spiritual leader currently serving a life sentence for serious crimes including rape and murder since 2018.
“It provides factual insights derived from public records, witness testimonies, and judicial documents. Since its release, supporters of Asaram Bapu have threatened the petitioners, their colleagues, and others in a similar predicament with violence, hate crimes, and intimidation,” the petition emphasized.
Furthermore, the petition noted that on January 30, around 10-15 individuals gathered outside Discovery's office, attempting to gain unauthorized entry and creating a disruptive situation.
“While the police dispersed the crowd, no effective action was taken against those responsible. The petitioners and their colleagues continue to face threats, causing Discovery to implement work-from-home protocols to safeguard employees,” it stated.
“Hate messages and threats have also been targeted at Discovery and its staff on social media, worsening the scenario. The actions of Asaram Bapu's supporters breach multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanita, 2023, including unlawful assembly (Section 189), rioting (Section 191), hate crimes and speech (Section 196), criminal trespass (Section 329), and criminal intimidation (Section 351),” the petition added.
The plea also mentioned that Discovery formally requested police protection from relevant authorities, but responses have been insufficient. While some police stations acknowledged the complaints, others have not acted.
In response, the apex court agreed to look into the issue, issuing a notice returnable in the week starting March 3. In the meantime, it instructed police authorities to ensure that Discovery officials can access their workplace and that no threats of physical harm are posed to them.
