27/06/2025
Senior journalist Irani Sonowal Lepcha has been acquitted in a defamation case filed by Sotai Kri, former Advisor to the Chief Minister. The case was dismissed by Judicial Magistrate First Class, Namsai, Lobsang Wangdi Bapu, citing non-prosecution a development widely seen as a significant moment for press freedom in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) shared the news on social media, stating:
βIn a win for press freedom, senior journalist Irani Sonowal Lepcha has been acquitted in a defamation case filed by ex-advisor to CM Sotai Kri. This verdict upholds the free press and our faith in the judiciary. Long live press freedom!β
Following the verdict, Irani expressed relief, saying:
βThis is a big relief and proves that truth always wins. For nearly two years, I endured tremendous mental stress due to this case. I had to make repeated trips from Itanagar to Namsai, often with my infant child, just to attend court hearings. Despite the case lacking any strong basis, a bailable arrest warrant was issued against me it felt like I was being punished for simply doing my job.β
She went on to thank APUWJ, the Arunachal Press Club (APC), the Arunachal Electronic and Digital Media Association (AEDMA), and fellow journalists for their unwavering support throughout the ordeal.
βTheir encouragement kept me going during this difficult time. I hope this verdict sends a strong message: journalists should not be harassed for reporting the truth. A free press must operate without fear. No matter how hard anyone tries to suppress it, the truth will always come out,β she added.
The defamation case stemmed from a report published by EastMojo on November 29, 2019, titled: βArunachal: Land Mafia near China border risking national security?β The article named Sotai Kri, allegedly prompting him to issue telephonic threats to Lepcha and file a police complaint at Tezu.
In response to the incident, APC, APUWJ, and AEDMA convened a joint meeting condemning the threats and intimidation faced by the journalist, calling it an attack on press freedom and an attempt to suppress investigative reporting.