FIR against Republic TV staff for `incitement to disaffection’ among police

An FIR was registered against four journalists of the news channel Republic TV here on Friday for allegedly defaming the Mumbai police and trying to cause “disaffection” among members of the police force.

Republic TV termed it as an “assault on media rights” and said it will fight every “strongarm tactic”.

The FIR, registered at N M Joshi Marg Police Station in the city, pertained to a report run by the channel about a `revolt’ against the city police commissioner by senior officers, an official said.

The first information report was filed under section 3(1) of the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922, along with IPC section 500 (defamation) on a complaint by sub-inspector Shashikant Pawar of the Special Branch, he said.