The Press Club of India (PCI) on Friday (August 22, 2025) demanded withdrawal of an FIR lodged by Assam Police against journalist Abhisar Sharma. The police have accused Mr. Sharma of making remarks with “mala fide intent to disrepute elected governments”, provoking communal sentiments and threatening national integrity.
“The FIR has invoked the draconian Section 152 (sedition), along with Sections 196 (promoting enmity and disharmony) and 197 (imputations against national integration) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Supreme Court has recently granted interim protection from arrest to online news portal -The Wire’s Founding Editor Siddharth Varadarajan and Consulting Editor Karan Thapar in an FIR registered by the same Assam police under section 152 of the BNS,” the PCI said.
