New Delhi, June 13 || The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to senior journalist Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, who was arrested by Andhra Pradesh Police on June 9, over the alleged derogatory remarks on women from Amaravati during a debate on the Sakshi television channel.
Srinivasa Rao, an anchor with the channel, was moderating the show during which one of the panellists made some objectionable comments.
A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan directed the release of Srinivasa Rao, noting that he did not make the comments.
The apex court granted bail and ordered his release on a plea challenging the arrest.
Questioning the Andhra Pradesh government over the arrest, the bench observed that it was necessary that Rao’s journalistic rights and his fundamental right to freedom of speech were protected.
It ordered the petitioner’s release subject to conditions imposed by the trial court. It also directed Rao not to make any derogatory statements on his show or allow anyone else to make the same.
The 70-year-old journalist was arrested by the state police from his residence in Hyderabad on June 9. He was brought to the Guntur district, where a court sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.