Chhattisgarh journalist held for spreading ‘fake news’ against Congress leaders
An FIR was registered against Nilesh Sharma on Wednesday including under the Indian Penal Code’s Section 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of the peace)
RAIPUR: A journalist has been arrested for allegedly spreading fake news against ruling Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh, police said on Friday.
(ANI/Representative image)
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Nilesh Sharma, the journalist and a political satirist, on Wednesday including under the Indian Penal Code’s Section 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of the peace). Sharma was arrested a day later.
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In his complaint, Khilawan Nishad, who calls himself a Congress worker and a supporter of chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and minister T S Singhdeo, accused Sharma and his news portal of spreading fake news to harm the ruling party. The FIR accused the portal of spreading “negativity and draw a wedge among the leaders and office bearers of Congress”.
Police superintendent (Raipur) Prashant Agarwal said Sharma published fake content without evidence. “We have booked him under the relevant sections for spreading rumours, fake news, and more investigation is going on.”
In October, two journalists of another web portal were arrested for allegedly publishing a “misleading and baseless report” against Congress lawmakers and extorting money from them.
Chhattisgarh government has drafted a proposed law to protect journalists and seeks to make harassment of journalists a cognisable but bailable offence with a jail term of up to one year.
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting.
His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.
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