Hyderabad, June 14 -- The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the immediate release of senior journalist and Sakshi TV anchor Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, who was arrested by Andhra Pradesh police on June 9 over controversial comments made by a panellist during a televised debate, noting that Rao had not made the objectionable remarks himself and that "freedom of journalistic expression deserves protection".

A division bench of the Supreme Court comprising justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and justice Manmohan issued an order directing the police to release him on bail as per the conditions to be suggested by the local court in Mangalagiri in Guntur district.

Rao, a 70-year-old veteran journalist, was arrested from his Hyderabad residence and trans...