NBA Writes To Maharashtra CM Seeking Withdrawal Of Charges Against ABP Majha Reporter Rahul Kulkarni

Various media associations came in support of Rahul Kulkarni and ABP Majha demanding a thorough probe to be carried out before arresting journalists.

NBA requested Maharashtra chief minister to drop charges against ABP journalist Rahul Gurunath Kulkarni

Mumbai: A Mumbai Court on Thursday granted bail to Rahul Kulkarni - a reporter of ABP Majha - in the case pertaining to gathering of migrant workers at Mumbai's Bandra railway station earlier this week.  In a statement, the Marathi TV news channel termed reports linking the migrant gathering with its news reports as "entirely misconceived and circulated with the sole intention of baselessly maligning ABP Majha". The channel has debunked allegations that its reportage on April 14 could be linked to the huge crowd of migrants outside Bandra (West) station. Various media associations came in support of Kulkarni and ABP Majha demanding a thorough probe to be carried out before arresting journalists. The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) today requested Maharashtra chief minister to drop charges against ABP journalist Rahul Gurunath Kulkarni. NBA president Rajat Sharma requested to adopt the recourse of filing a complaint before the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA). In a letter addressed to the CM, Rajat Sharma wrote: "NBA condemns the said act of unreasonable arrest. The arrest is a serious infringement on the right of freedom of speech and is a  frontal assault on the free Press. The fundamental right of freedom of speech is sought to be gagged and any further custody and incarceration of him would be a serious infraction of the constitutional mandate and would also threaten his life." Read The Full Text Of The Letter Written By NBA To Maharashtra CM: Shri. Uddhav Thackeray April Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Chief Ministers Office Mumbai Request for Release and Dropping of Charges against a Senior Journalist Rahul Gurugranth Kulkarni and to adopt the recourse of filing complaint before the “News Broadcasters Standards Association” Dear Uddhav Ji, We write on behalf of the “News Broadcasters Association (NBA)” which is the Apex Body of News Broadcasters and which represents the private television news & current affairs broadcasters. It is the collective voice of the news & current affairs broadcasters in India. This letter is addressed to you in an extreme state of shock and anguish with respect to a recent unreasonable arrest of a Senior Journalist Shri Rahul Gurunath Kulkarni from ABP Majha Channel. The FIR is based upon some reports which purported to draw the connection between the gathering at Mumbai Bandra West station and a news story by him. The said Senior Journalist is a person with impeccable record and known for his upright journalism and would always have made himself available to the investigating agency/agencies for any purpose and thus there is no question of him fleeing from or evading the investigating agency which necessitated an arrest in the current Pandemic situation exposing him to the risk of contracting the Virus. NBA condemns the said act of unreasonable arrest. The arrest is a serious infringement on the right of freedom of speech and is a frontal assault on the free Press. The fundamental right of freedom of speech is sought to be gagged and any further custody and incarceration of him would be a serious infraction of the constitutional mandate and would also threaten his life. As an association we believe in promoting excellence in broadcasting standards and all the members are governed by a Code of Ethics, Broadcasting Standards and Self-Regulation. NBA has constituted an Adjudicatory Body namely the “News Broadcasting Standards Authority” which is an independent body headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Arjun Sikri. Its task is to consider and adjudicate upon complaints about broadcasts. The Authority comprises of, apart from Chairperson, who is a Retired Judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India; Four eminent persons and Four eminent editors employed with the broadcasters. All cases are adjudicated in a fair and impartial manner and it is empowered to regulate its own procedure. The Authority is empowered to pass various orders and they can warn, admonish, censure, express disapproval against and/or impose a fine upon the broadcaster and/or recommend to the concerned authority for suspension / revocation of license of such broadcaster. It has the power to impose a fine to the tune of Rs.1,00,000/- which can be recovered from the concerned Broadcaster. All such complaints can be made to :- “News Broadacsting Standards Authority C/o News Broadcasters Association Mantec House, C-56/5 , 2nd Floor, Sector 62 – Noida – 201 301” It would be therefore in the larger interest of press freedom that a journalist and reporter of the standing of Rahul Gurunath Kulkarni is freed from all charges so that the sanctity of the press freedom is restored. Any complaints with respect to the said or any content may kindly be made to the NBSA at the above stated address and we assure you that justice would be done and in case of any violation appropriate orders would be passed in accordance with the NBSA regulations. We request for your kind intervention. Yours faithfully, Rajat Sharma President, NBA