Assam Police Files Second Sedition Case Against The Wire Journalists Siddharth Varadarajan and Karan Thapar

 Guwahati/New Delhi, August 20, 2025

In a move that has sparked widespread condemnation from press organizations and political figures, the Assam Police have registered a fresh First Information Report (FIR) invoking sedition charges against Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor of the independent news portal The Wire, and senior journalist Karan Thapar. The case, filed under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), marks the second such action against The Wire in recent weeks, raising serious concerns about the misuse of sedition laws to stifle journalistic freedom in India. Both journalists have been summoned to appear before the Guwahati Crime Branch on August 22, 2025, amid allegations that the police have not provided details of the FIR or the specific content under scrutiny.

 Background and Previous Legal Entanglements

The latest development comes just days after the Supreme Court granted interim protection to Varadarajan and other Wire staff from coercive actions in a prior sedition case filed in Morigaon, Assam, on July 11, 2025. That FIR, initiated based on a complaint by a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officeholder, targeted a June 28, 2025, article published by The Wire titled “‘IAF Lost Fighter Jets to Pak Because of Political Leadership’s Constraints’: Indian Defence Attache.” The piece discussed alleged constraints on the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor, a sensitive military operation. The Wire challenged the constitutionality of Section 152 of the BNS—the revamped sedition provision—in the Supreme Court, which issued a notice to the government on August 12, 2025, and stayed any arrests in that matter.

Critics argue that Section 152 is essentially a "repackaged" version of the colonial-era Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which the Supreme Court had effectively suspended in May 2022 pending a review of its validity. The BNS, which replaced the IPC in July 2024, has been accused of broadening the scope of sedition to include acts "endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India," potentially allowing for broader interpretation and misuse against dissenters.

The new FIR, registered as case number 03/2025 at the Panbazar Crime Branch in Guwahati, invokes multiple sections of the BNS, including:

 Section 152: Acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India (the core sedition charge).

Section 196: Promoting enmity between different groups.

Section 197(1)(D)/3(6): Related to publishing false or misleading information.

 Section 353: Criminal intimidation.

 Sections 45 and 61: Pertaining to criminal conspiracy and abetment.

Summons were issued under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the new criminal procedure code, by Inspector Soumarjyoti Ray. Varadarajan received his summons on August 14, 2025, while Thapar was notified on August 19, 2025. Notably, the summons do not specify the date of the FIR's registration, the alleged offense, or the content (article, video, or interview) that prompted the charges. No copy of the FIR was provided, which The Wire claims violates legal requirements and a Karnataka High Court precedent mandating such disclosure.

The exact content triggering this second FIR remains undisclosed by the police, leading to speculation that it may relate to critical reporting on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma or broader political issues. Some sources suggest it could stem from an interview conducted by Thapar with Varadarajan discussing government policies or military matters, but official confirmation is absent. Attempts by journalists in Assam to obtain FIR details from the police or magistrate's court have been unsuccessful, highlighting a lack of transparency.

 Reactions from Press Bodies, Journalists, and Political Leaders

The case has drawn sharp criticism from media watchdogs and free speech advocates, who view it as part of a growing pattern of harassment against independent journalism. The Press Club of India (PCI) and the Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC) jointly condemned the FIR as "vindictive" and demanded its immediate withdrawal, along with the repeal of Section 152, arguing it threatens constitutional freedoms under Article 19(1)(a).

The Editors Guild of India echoed these sentiments, calling the charges a "growing trend" of misusing criminal laws to suppress reporting and labeling Section 152 a risk to free speech. The International Press Institute (IPI) urged authorities to drop the charges, emphasizing that sedition should not be used against journalists for criticizing authorities. The Mumbai Press Club described the action as a "witch hunt" and called for solidarity among journalists to resist intimidation.

Political reactions have been equally vocal. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned the summons, warning against the misuse of sedition laws to curb journalism and expressing solidarity with the affected reporters. Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju criticized the FIR as politically motivated but also questioned the journalists' approach to deeper systemic issues in Indian democracy.

Varadarajan and Thapar have responded by affirming their willingness to cooperate but insisting on receiving the FIR details first, citing legal protections. Failure to appear could lead to arrest warrants, as warned in the summons.

This case underscores ongoing tensions between the government and independent media in India, where sedition laws have historically been used to target critics. The Hindu's editorial described it as "sedition redux," arguing that the new law tramples on press freedom and threatens expression further. With India ranking low on global press freedom indices, such actions could deter investigative reporting and erode public trust in institutions.