SC to Review Journalist’s Plea Against Assam Police FIR on August 28

Quick Summary

• The Supreme Court is set to hear journalist Abhisar Sharma’s plea on August 28, 2025, seeking the quashing of an FIR filed against him by Assam Police.
• The FIR concerns a video uploaded by Sharma on his YouTube channel allegedly criticizing state policies and creating communal tension.
• The complaint against Sharma was lodged at Guwahati Crime Branch police station by Alok Baruah.
• in the video, Mr. Sharma questioned the allocation of 3,000 bighas of tribal land in Dima Hasao district for a private cement factory based on recent remarks from gauhati High Court.
• Sharma has challenged the validity of Section 152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)-which addresses actions endangering India’s sovereignty and unity-and has also been charged under Section 196 (promoting enmity between groups).

indian Opinion Analysis
This case highlights critical intersections between freedom of speech and legal accountability in modern India. While it is essential to hold individuals accountable for content that genuinely incites communal disharmony or distrust among authorities, it is equally necessary to ensure such laws are not misused to suppress legitimate criticism or investigative journalism. With Mr. Sharma questioning land allocation practices linked to notable tribal areas-a sensitive issue in itself-the court’s decision could set precedents for how dissenting voices are accommodated within legal frameworks like BNS without stifling democratic dialog.

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