NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said that a journalist is not a person licensed to take law into their hands. The observation came in an anticipatory bail plea of a media worker accused of taking bribes from a racket selling new-born babies in Madhya Pradesh is under scrutiny.

A bench comprising Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundaresh said that the petitioner, the journalist, is accused in many cases. The interim bail granted in November 2022 was also cancelled. The court also stated that since the investigation in the case has been completed, the investigating officer should check whether the journalist should be taken into custody.

In July 2021, Sadaqat Pathan, a journalist, broke the news alleging a group selling newborn babies. However, on the complaint of the accused, a case was filed that the journalist had taken bribe. As per allegations, he asked for Rs 50 lakh and took Rs 50,000. The journalist's lawyer argued in court that the complaint was unbelievable. Justice A.S. Bopanna said that nothing is reliable or unreliable in the present times. Sadaqat Pathan approached the Supreme Court after the Madhya Pradesh High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.