The High Court of Andhra Pradesh has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to defreeze the accounts of Sakshi media group run by the accused in illegal assets case, Jaganmohan Reddy. The court, however, laid down certain conditions to Sakshi media group. The court held that the accounts movable and immovable properties of Jaganmohan Reddy should not be mortgaged or sold under any circumstances.

The court also directed Sakshi media group to submit the details of the accounts on tenth of every month. It has also directed the group to conduct transactions only through cheques.  The High Court has said that interim orders were passed keeping in view the future of Sakshi employees.

It may be recalled that Central Bureau of Investigation had frozen the accounts of Jagati Publications, Sakshi TV and Janani Infra under the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Section 2.

Irked over the froze of accounts, many journalists in the state pitched their voice in support of Jagan stating that it was an act of curb ‘freedom of press.’ However, many eminent journalists condemned these statements and reminded that press in India has no absolute freedom.

It may be noted that every newspaper or media or anything that disseminates news enjoys fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed to every citizen under Article 19 1 (a).