The Supreme Court has paused a Karnataka High Court order stopping the broadcast of a local TV channel on the grounds of lack of proper license. The high court had ordered the blackout on a petition by the Information and Broadcast ministry.

The channel had provided elaborate coverage telecast of the alleged sex scandal involving suspended JDS leader Prajwal Revanna and his brother Suraj Revanna.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud termed the action “sheer political vendetta”.

“The more we hear you the more we are convinced this is political vendetta…The idea was to completely blank out his voice, the state is duty bound to protect his freedom of speech and expression,” the Chief Justice said.

The Supreme Court will take up the case again on Monday.

Bibhav Kumar, presently in judicial custody, allegedly assaulted Maliwal on May 13 at Kejriwal’s official residence. He was arrested on May 18.