Bangalore: High Court Rejects Bail Plea of Journalist Naveen Soorinje

Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Dec 26: In a setback to jailed journalist Naveen Soorinje, the high court on Wednesday December 26 rejected his bail plea in connection with the July 28 attack on a home stay at Padil in Mangalore.

The court also dismissed the bail petitions of Taranath Alva and Venugopal, members of the group that allegedly carried out the attack.


File Photo

A journalist with a Kannada TV channel, Soorinje was arrested on November 7 by Kankanady police led by inspector Ravish Naik.

Dismissing Soorinje’s bail plea, Justice K N Keshavanarayana said that Soorinje had failed to inform the police despite having information about the attack on boys and girls celebrating a birthday at the home stay. In addition, by recording the video of the attack and flashing it repeatedly on television, the dignity of the students had been put at stake, he said.

The judge in his statement also said that as the students who were attacked resided in Mangalore, there may be chances that they would be threatened. Also, granting bail to Soorinje was not an issue of public interest, he said while rejecting the journalist’s bail plea.

The high court had earlier ordered a stay on the FIR lodged against Soorinje, and a copy of the order was sent through fax on November 20.

As it was not an attested copy, the third JMFC judge in Mangalore had asked for clarification over the release of Naveen Soorinje.

On July 28 this year, a group of HJV activists had attacked boys and girls celebrating a birthday at Morning Mist Home Stay at Padil, alleging that they were indulging in a rave party. The police have arrested 29 persons, including Soorinje, in connection with the case. The court has denied bail to all the arrested.
Soorinje in Hospital

Meanwhile, Naveen Soorinje on Tuesday December 25 was hospitalized in Mangalore with symptoms of chicken pox.

Soorinje developed high fever and rashes on Monday December 24 night, and was taken to Wenlock hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

He has been kept under observation at the hospital block meant for jail inmates.