FIR for journalists filming in police stations: Meerut deputy SP

Meerut: Deputy SP of Meerut, Saumya Asthana, has warned that "any journalist found conducting videography inside police station premises under her jurisdiction in Meerut would face an FIR". A purported audio clip of the directive was widely circulated on social media, triggering a debate, with several users describing it as a "violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression".In the purported audio, circle officer Asthana can be heard instructing that journalists recording videos inside police stations would invite legal action. She also cautioned police personnel about consequences, if they failed to enforce the order.Supporting her, SSP (Meerut) Avinash Pandey said, "The directive had been grossly misunderstood and the clip was incomplete. There are many unrecognised and self-styled scribes who, with some personal agenda, make videos for vested interests within the premises of a police station. Such elements need to be sifted out. As the SSP, I fully support her decision."The development comes amid a series of recent actions in Uttar Pradesh relating to digital content. In Moradabad, an FIR was filed over a social media post, naming two individuals who had commented on it, based on a complaint by a nagar nigam outsourcing employee.In Mathura, police charged nine social media influencers for allegedly circulating "misleading" clips of the traditional ‘Lathmar' and ‘Laddumar' Holi celebrations in Barsana and Nandgaon. An FIR was lodged under BNS sections 196(2) (promoting enmity among groups during a religious ceremony) and 353(2) (circulating false news), along with sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act.