How Criminals Abuse the Legal System in India to Attack Press Freedom

How Criminals Abuse the Legal System in India to Attack Press Freedom

CASE UPDATE: With its order dated July 28, 2025, the court dismissed the revision petition filed by M. N. Sampath Kumar. The other details of the case are given below. ~ Rakesh Raman

Synopsis of the Case

A member of the builders’ mafia named M.N. Sampathkumar has concealed facts of his crimes and hoodwinked the court by filing a false case against journalist and social activist Rakesh Raman. The present court case that Rakesh Raman is facing is also part of the threats to him as he has been fighting against a citywide environmental crime in New Delhi.

By Rakesh Raman

In an ongoing case at the Dwarka District Court in New Delhi, I am defending myself against a malicious legal action that clearly illustrates how India’s judicial system is being exploited to target independent journalists. 

A member of the builders’ mafia named M.N. Sampathkumar (also written as M. N. Sampath Kumar or Sampathkumar)— deeply involved in a citywide environmental crime racket — had filed a criminal defamation complaint against me for publishing investigative editorial reports grounded in verified public records. 

The Magistrate’s court dismissed the original petition of Sampathkumar, stating it was “a classic case of redressal of civil dispute by putting the criminal machinery in motion.”

Despite this direct ruling, the same complainant has now filed a revision petition in Sessions Court, once again under criminal procedure (CR CRIMINAL REVISION/586/2023) — even though the underlying issue remains civil in nature.

This is not only a gross misuse of legal process but also legally paradoxical. The Sessions Court is currently entertaining a civil dispute under the guise of criminal revision — a contradiction that undermines the integrity of judicial categories and process.

As a national award-winning journalist and founder of the humanitarian organization RMN Foundation, I have spent years reporting on corruption, particularly environmental crimes in Delhi. 

For this work, I have faced repeated threats — including death threats — from politically connected criminal networks. My case has drawn the attention of Paris-based international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that defends freedom of journalists. 

RSF has appealed to the Indian government to protect me and in an article written on its website, RSF explains that I have received multiple threats for my reporting but Delhi Police failed to take action to protect me.

Although the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India had also issued notice to Delhi Police in my case so that I could work and move freely, the Delhi Police again ignored the NHRC directions and did not take any action against the identified culprits. 

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The present court case that I am facing is also part of the threats to me as I have been fighting against a citywide environmental crime in New Delhi. The revisionist (petitioner Sampathkumar) in this case is a frontman of builders’ mafia which is committing the environmental crime in connivance with top government officials. 

While I am eligible to take free legal aid, the Dwarka District Court tried to provide me legal aid but could not arrange a qualified advocate. I have therefore been compelled to defend myself. 

As part of my defence, I submitted a 48-page response dated May 6, 2024 with detailed exhibits and hyperlinks in the court and provided the same to the petitioner’s advocate. 

As the Revisionist (petitioner Sampathkumar who is a member of builders’ mafia) is trying to harass me by delaying the case, he is seeking repeated adjournments. Therefore, in the order of 27.02.2025, the Additional Sessions Judge & Special Judge mentioned that “Adjournment is vehemently opposed by respondent (Rakesh Raman) that several opportunities have been taken on one account or the other. Revisionist is granted only one opportunity to address the arguments, failing which, the revision petition shall be decided on merits.” 

The last date of hearing was April 28, 2025 when the judge was on leave. The next hearing took place on May 31, 2025 and subsequently on July 11, 2025, while the court order is expected on July 28, 2025.

In fact, this case is a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) — a clear attempt to burden me with legal proceedings and silence my reporting through intimidation and exhaustion. 

As process is the punishment in our justice system, I have already suffered for almost two years because of this avoidable judicial process. I am not able to focus on my editorial and humanitarian work because of this fabricated case against me in which petitioner Sampathkumar has deliberately concealed the facts to deceive the court.

This is not just a personal legal matter. It’s a reflection of how the judicial system in India is being misused to criminalize journalism and suppress truth. If courts do not draw a clear boundary between civil and criminal matters — and protect those who report fearlessly — democracy itself is at risk.

I have stated some facts about the Indian judiciary in my research report, “India Judicial Research Report 2024: Decline of the Indian Judiciary.”

My editorial work in public interest is based on verified facts and public records, and is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. Criminal law cannot be misused to suppress freedom of the press or punish responsible journalism. Therefore, the present revision petition filed by Sampathkumar must be dismissed, as it is not maintainable under criminal revision jurisdiction.

By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.