The state machinery must take responsibility to protect the rights and liberties of its citizens guaranteed under the Constitution, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M. Trivedi made the observation while asking the Madhya Pradesh government to file a status report on the investigation carried out so far in an FIR registered against Sonu Mansoori, a law intern, who is alleged to have links with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

She had been in jail since January 28 for filming proceedings at a court in Indore and was granted bail by the top court on March 22.

“The state machinery must take responsibility to protect the rights and liberties of the citizens. Liberty is protected under the Constitution and the state is obligated to protect the rights of its citizens,” the bench told additional solicitor-general K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government.

At the outset, he said the case was under investigation and the state would file a status report on the probe carried out so far. Mansoori is named as an accused in the FIR.

The bench said the state must ensure that there was an independent investigation.

It posted the matter for further hearing on May 11 and asked the state government to ensure Mansoori’s safety.

On March 22, the Supreme Court had taken note of the submissions of Natraj that he had no objection if bail was granted to Mansoori.