Prophet remarks row: SC says no coercive action should be taken against Navika Kumar

The Supreme Court has granted Times Now's Navika Kumar interim protection in the FIRs filed against her in the Nupur Sharma case.

The interim order was passed by a bench comprising Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli.

Kumar has multiple FIRs filed against her in states including Maharashtra, West Bengal and Delhi for outraging religious feelings. This was after former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma appeared on her show on May 26 and made comments against the Prophet during a debate on the Gyanvapi mosque issue.

Sharma's comments had sparked a diplomatic row and the BJP suspended her. Kumar, meanwhile, was criticised for not intervening. Sharma had made similar comments on the very same day on Republic TV and News24 but the anchors on both channels, unlike Kumar, had either cut her short, chided her, or switched off her mic.

In court today, advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Kumar. According to LiveLaw, he said, "Debate was about Gyanvapi...Petitioner did not say anything. She in fact tried to douse the fire by saying we have to go by the constitution."

Kumar had moved the Supreme Court last week seeking the clubbing of the FIRs against her and transferring them to one state.