MP High Court Grants Bail To Tehelka Journalist In Extortion Case, Notes He Was Implicated After Exposing Female Foeticide Racket

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to a Tehelka Digital News journalist over allegations of extortion, abetment and criminal conspiracy, noting that the said FIR was filed only after the journalist exposed an illegal female foeticide racket being carried out in various nursing homes and hospitals. [2026 LiveLaw (MP) 239]

The bench of Justice Pavan Kumar Dwivedi observed that the FIR was lodged only after the video of the sting operation was sent to the commissioner and other officers:

"After considering the rival submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the case diary, particularly taking into account the fact that on 06.04.2026 (Annexure A/2), the video of Sting Operation was already sent to the Commissioner, Health Department, Madhya Pradesh, Chairperson of NHRC, DGP of Madhya Pradesh as well as CM&HO, Dewas and on 06/07.04.2026, it was sent to CMHO, Dewas and only after that FIR was registered on 07.04.2026, this Court is inclined to allow this application and enlarge the applicant on bail.  Accordingly, without commenting anything on the merits of the matter, the present application is allowed". 

The counsel for the applicant submitted that after conducting the sting operation, they had provided the entire material of the operation including the video recording to the concerned persons in the news channels who in turn forwarded the same to the Commissioner, Health Department, Madhya Pradesh, the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Director General of Police (DGP) Madhya Pradesh and the Chief Medical & Health Officer (CM&HO), Dewas. 

The applicant contended that only after the said video was forwarded to the officers on April 7, 2026, was the FIR registered against the applicant and other persons fr allegedly hatching a conspiracy to extort money from the complainant. The counsel for the applicant claimed that when the information was already sent to the Higher officials, then there was no possibility of extorting money. It was further argued that the co-accused in the present case was granted bail. 

Case Title: Rajni v State of Madhya Pradesh, MCRC-26708-2026

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (MP) 239

For Applicant: Advocate Aman Malviya 

For State: Government Advocate Hemand Sharma

Click here to read/download the Order