Two Chhattisgarh journalists arrested on charges of extortion

Congress MLAs Brihaspat Singh and Kuldeep Juneja filed a complaint against a web news portal alleging attempt to extort money by Madhukar Dubey, who is also the portal’s owner, and Avinash Palliwar

Published on: Oct 27, 2021, 09:53:34 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Chhattisgarh Police have arrested two journalists in Raipur for allegedly publishing a “misleading and baseless report” in a web portal against two ruling Congress lawmakers and extorting money from them.

A senior Chhattisgarh police officer said the arrests were made following the lawmakers’ complaint that they got an extortion call from one of the two journalists. (Shutterstock image)

Brihaspat Singh and Kuldeep Juneja, the lawmakers, on Monday filed a complaint against the portal. Madhukar Dubey, who is also the portal’s owner, and Avinash Palliwar, were arrested on Monday. They have been booked under the Indian Penal Code’s Sections including 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 384 (extortion), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Also Read | ‘It could’ve been avoided’: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Jashpur incident

Police superintendent Prashant Agarwal cited the complaint in the case and said the lawmakers alleged they got a call of extortion from one of the two. “The FIR (first information report) was registered on the basis of the complaint and arrests have been made. A primary investigation suggested the news was baseless and there no sting as the portal claimed.” Agarwal said as per the norm in cases involving journalists, a deputy inspector general-level officer will review the charge sheet before it is filed in the case.

Dubey’s wife, Archna, alleged police arrested her husband under pressure and without any investigation. “How can you arrest a journalist without even investigating the complaint...? The police are under pressure of politicians and working as their tool.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
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.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.