Supreme Court Denies Bail to Journalist Rupesh Singh Amid Wife’s Plea and Police Taunts

The Supreme Court dismissed journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh’s plea for bail, upholding the Jharkhand High Court’s December 6, 2023, decision. Singh, who has been imprisoned since July 17, 2022, faces accusations of links to the banned CPI (Maoist) organization. Notably, his name did not feature in the original First Information Report (FIR); it was later added in a supplementary chargesheet after police allegedly recovered SD cards containing incriminating content.

His wife, Ipsa Shatakshi, a former teacher now juggling legal battles, single parenting, and household responsibilities, remains deeply concerned. Despite the Supreme Court’s brief refusal—“We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order”—she clings to hope, though fears that her husband may remain imprisoned indefinitely.

Ipsa recalled a chilling taunt from police officers after Singh’s arrest: “Whether you bring Kapil Sibal or Prashant Bhushan, no one can get you out.” This remark, she says, haunts her as it increasingly reflects their legal reality.

Rupesh Singh’s ordeal traces back to 2019 when he was first arrested under UAPA charges by Andhra Pradesh and Bihar police for alleged Maoist affiliations. Though released on default bail after charges weren’t framed, he was rearrested in 2022 in Jharkhand. Presently, he faces five separate cases across Bihar and Jharkhand, securing bail in three.

Ipsa, who travels 350 kilometers to Bhagalpur jail to meet her husband under heavily restricted visitation, manages both emotional and financial burdens while raising their 7-year-old son, Agrim. She has also embarked on law studies to better navigate the complex legal maze surrounding her husband’s case.

A seasoned journalist, Rupesh Singh has extensively reported on issues affecting Dalits, tribals, and Adivasis, including displacement, state excesses, and alleged Pegasus surveillance targeting him. He categorically denies all allegations, viewing them as attempts to silence his critical reporting.

His legal team emphasized that the original FIR excluded his name, the supplementary evidence lacked credibility, and several co-accused have already been granted bail. Despite this, Singh remains behind bars while Ipsa continues her fight, calling for broader journalist solidarity and defending press freedom under mounting state pressure.