The Supreme Court on Monday refused to quash an FIR against journalist Amish Devgan for allegedly insulted a Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti on live television.

The top court said Devgan will get protection from any coercive action if he continues to cooperate with the probe. A bench of justices comprising AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna also transferred all FIRs lodged in different states including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana against Devgan to Ajmer in Rajasthan.

Five FIRs have been lodged against Devgan in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Telangana for using a derogatory term for the Sufi saint in the news debate show called ‘Aar Paar’ on his channel. Devgan has apologized for his comments on Twitter for alleged defamatory remarks during a show telecast on June 15.

Earlier, the top court had granted protection to Devgan from any coercive action in connection with the FIRs. After that, the apex court has been extending the protection from any coercive action to the journalist.

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