Apex court extends stay on radio jockey Nitin's arrest

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Red FM radio jockey Jonathan Brady alias Nitin was granted immunity from arrest by the Supreme Court Monday till his petition challenging a criminal case against him over his alleged insulting remarks about "Indian Idol" Prashant Tamang is decided by the court.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice J.M. Panchal exempted Nitin from arrest, extending its last week's order till Monday.

The Red FM jockey faces arrest following registration of a case in Siliguri, West Bengal, accusing him of inciting communal violence and creating hatred between the Nepalese Gurkha community and others by his remarks during a radio show.

He has also been accused of hurting feelings of the Nepalese by his jocular remarks during a live radio programme that "shopkeepers will now have to make their own security arrangements as Gurkhas have taken to singing".

He made the remark on his new programme, "Khurafati Nitin", on Red FM in the wake of Tamang emerging as winner of the "Indian Idol" television talent show.

The remark triggered clashes between Tamang's fans and locals in Siliguri and the police had to resort to firing to contain the mob.

The police registered a case against Nitin for inciting communal violence and a Siliguri court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him.

The radio jockey subsequently moved the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail and quashing of the criminal proceedings. But the high court dismissed his petition and he approached the apex court in appeal.