HC declines to quash FIR against Meghalaya journalist for Facebook post

The Meghalaya High Court has refused to quash a police complaint against veteran journalist Patricia Mukhim for her Facebook post which allegedly incited communal tension between the tribal and the non-tribal communities in the state.

Disposing of a petition filed by Mukhim, a Padma Shri awardee and the editor of The Shillong Times newspaper, Justice W Diengdoh said that the investigation agency should be given a free hand to probe into the matter.

“In the event, the investigating agency is required to be given a free hand to investigate the matter and to come to its own conclusion in due process of law.

“Consequently, I find no merit in the instant petition for exercising powers under Section 482 CrPC. This petition is accordingly hereby rejected,” the judge said in the November 10 order.