Row over video on retired Army major: HC denies pre-arrest bail to YouTube channel admin

Considering as serious the allegations against the ‘admin’ of a YouTube channel over a video allegedly damaging the reputation of a retired Army Major, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of the former.

The bench of Justice H S Madaan, while declining pre-arrest bail to the accused, held, “Though every citizen of India has got a right to express his views in the matter, but then freedom of speech does not mean that one can go to the extent of making wild and malicious allegations.”

The petitioner, who is the YouTube channel admin, had approached the High Court, seeking pre-arrest bail, after he had been booked under Sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace),