The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday refused to interfere in the bail order granted to Mohan Nayak, the accused in the high-profile murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh. In its decision, the court emphasized that Nayak had cooperated with the authorities, stating, “Under the circumstances, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned orders passed by the High Court. However, it is directed that the trial court shall expeditiously conduct the trial and all the parties shall cooperate with the trial court in concluding the trial.” The full order can be read here.
Nayak’s bail was originally granted by the Karnataka State High Court in December 2023. Gauri Lankesh, known for her outspoken stance against right-wing extremism, was murdered on September 5, 2017, outside her residence in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The murder, revealed to be premeditated and linked to a radical extremist network, sparked widespread outrage and protests throughout India. Details about her murder and its implications on journalist safety in India are discussed here.
India ranks 159 out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. The country remains one of the most dangerous for journalists, with an average of three to four journalists killed annually. The violence and threats come from multiple sources including police, political activists, and criminal groups. More detailed rankings and insights are available here.
In a related matter, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recently urged Delhi police to cease their retaliatory investigation into three journalists from The Caravan, an Indian journalism platform. CPJ’s concern is that the focus should shift to investigating those responsible for the attacks against these journalists during the 2020 Delhi riot. More on this call from CPJ can be read here.