Journalist Who Exposed Alleged Female Foeticide Racket Gets Bail from Madhya Pradesh High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to a journalist associated with Tehelka Digital News who was arrested in an alleged extortion case after conducting sting operations exposing illegal prenatal sex determination, unlawful abortions, and female foeticide in several hospitals in Dewas district. The journalist argued that the criminal cases were filed in retaliation for her investigative work and that the allegations were motivated by malice.

Before the FIR was registered, her media team had already submitted the sting operation videos and related material to the Health Commissioner, the Director General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Chief Medical and Health Officer. She also pointed out that she had already secured bail in three connected cases, while another co-accused had received bail and one had obtained interim protection from the Supreme Court.

The State opposed the bail plea, claiming the journalist had attempted to blackmail and extort money using the recorded videos. However, Justice Pavan Kumar Dwivedi observed that the investigative material had been officially shared with senior authorities before the complainant filed the FIR, making the sequence of events relevant while considering the bail request. Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the allegations, the Court held that this circumstance justified granting regular bail.

The journalist was directed to furnish a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with one solvent surety and comply with all bail conditions, including appearing before the trial court during the proceedings. The Court clarified that the bail would remain effective until the conclusion of the trial unless its conditions were violated.