On 28 May 2024, Chief Justice Surya Kant used his influence to secure the release of 12 Supreme Court lawyers detained near the Supreme Court and Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The arrests followed a protest that erupted after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was accused of pressuring political parties to set an early 2024 election schedule.
While the CJI’s intervention freed the lawyers, Delhi Police detained journalists covering the same protest, including reporters from The Wire, Scroll and Newslaundry, who were taken from their vehicles and hotel rooms.
SCAORA president Devvrat said the CJI had spoken to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and top police officials, prompting the lawyers’ release. Mehta, in turn, met with Delhi Police to address the detentions.
The Delhi Police have not yet issued a formal statement on the arrests of journalists, and officials are expected to explain their actions at a press briefing on 31 May 2024.
For one journalist, Harsh Yadav, the police raid on his hotel in Delhi left him stranded, illustrating the broader crackdown on media coverage.