No bail yet for channel staff in Adityanath defamation row, decision likely today

A local court in Greater Noida on Tuesday, June 18 reserved its order while hearing bail pleas of three TV news channel staffers — Ishika Singh, Anshul Kaushik and Anuj Shukla — who were arrested on June 8.

Three have been booked in two FIRs, one for the debate that the channel Nation Live had broadcast on June 6 that was deemed defamatory to UP CM Adityanath and another for allegedly running the channel without requisite permits.

The court of the additional sessions judge of Surajpur court heard the bail plea of all three accused on charges of defamation. The hearing in the other FIR, in which the police have invoked charges of cheating and forgery, is likely to be heard on Wednesday June 19.

KK Singh, who represents Ishika Singh, one of the staffers, said the court of the additional district and sessions judge Nalin Kant Tyagi had reserved its order for Wednesday while hearing the first (defamation) case. The bail pleas of Ishika and Anuj Shukla were rejected by a lower court last week.

Parth Upadhayay, the lawyer representing anchor Anshul Kaushik and editor Anuj Shukla, said they had argued vehemently against the allegations levelled by police.