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MP High Court Grants Bail to Journalist in Foeticide Sting Case, Noting Prior Reporting to Authorities:
In a significant order highlighting the intersection of investigative journalism and criminal justice, the at Indore has granted to Rajni, a journalist associated with . The court’s decision pivots on the timely disclosure of to , which undercut the state's claims of .
The Backdrop: A Sting Turned Against the Investigator The applicant, a journalist, had been in custody since . Her arrest followed a series of sting operations targeting nursing homes and hospitals in the Dewas district suspected of violating the and the .
Following these investigations, four separate FIRs were registered against her, including the present matter at , under the . The prosecution alleged that the journalist and her team were part of a to extort money from the complainants instead of merely conducting professional journalism.
Arguments Before the Court The applicant’s counsel contended that the allegations were . Crucially, the defense produced evidence that the videos were shared with the Commissioner of the Health Department, the , the , and the on April 6 and 7, 2026—all prior to the registration of the . The defense argued that there was no logical basis for an when the evidence had already been submitted to high-ranking .
In contrast, the State vehemently opposed the bail, maintaining that the allegations of blackmail and through recorded videos were serious and warranted continued custody.
Key Observations Justice Pavan Kumar Dwivedi, in his order, noted the significance of the timing in the case diary records:
"The video of was already sent to the Commissioner, , Chairperson of , as well as CM&HO, Dewas and on , it was sent to CMHO, Dewas and only after that was registered... this Court is inclined to allow this application."
The Bench further observed:
"The applicant has been harassed for the reason that she acted in and carried out against the complainant."
Ruling and Implications The High Court proceeded to allow the bail application, directing the journalist’s release upon furnishing a of Rs 1,00,000 with a of the same amount. The court emphasized that it was not commenting on the but was guided by the fact that the journalistic act of reporting illegalities occurred before the criminal complaint was initiated.
This ruling mirrors the relief recently granted by the same court to fellow journalists involved in the same operation, such as Vinay Arora. The court's insistence on scrutinizing the sequence of events—specifically comparing the date of evidence notification to the date of the —serves as a vital for media practitioners facing criminal charges in the wake of investigative exposures. For now, the applicant remains free to contest the charges, provided she adheres to the conditions of the bail throughout the remainder of the .
