Calcutta High Court declines relief for Anandabazar Patrika journalists

The Calcutta High Court has declined to grant urgent relief to journalists from Anandabazar Patrika following a first information report (FIR) filed against the newspaper’s editorial team. The legal action stems from a headline describing clashes at Jadavpur University as “saffron hooliganism” (gerua gundami).

The clashes occurred on August 20 between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Left-affiliated student groups. The FIR names editor Ishani Dutta Roy and chief reporter Soma Mukherjee. The court indicated that the journalists should proceed by filing a petition to quash the FIR through regular legal channels rather than seeking immediate intervention.

The incident follows a protest where individuals purportedly associated with Hindutva groups smeared saffron paint on the newspaper’s office building.