Political mafia may have killed Ranjan: PCI panel

NEW DELHI: Bihar-based journalist Rajdeo Ranjan might have been killed by“political mafia” because of his critical reporting, a fact-finding committee of the Press

NEW DELHI: Bihar-based journalist Rajdeo Ranjan might have been killed by“political mafia” because of his critical reporting, a fact-finding committee of the Press Council of India (PCI) stated.

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In light of a spurt in criminal defamation cases against journalists, the council accepted two fact-finding reports on the deaths of Rajdeo Ranjan, Hindustan’s bureau chief in Bihar, and Akhilesh Pratap Singh, a TV journalist for Chhatra in Jharkhand.

The report, which the council accepted last week, suggested Singh might have been killed over a demand of money by a Maoist group.

“The finding inter-alia suggested that Rajdeo Ranjan was killed by the political mafia because of his critical reportage and on the other hand, Akhilesh Pratap Singh though not perhaps had been murdered due to professional activities but may be due to demand of money by a Maoist Group,” the council’s statement on the reports said.

The council, currently headed by Justice (retd) C K Prasad, has been concerned about the situation, and in a meeting on September 9, called for details from all states and Union territories on cases that were registered against journalists.

Meanwhile, the CBI formally filed a case in the murder of Rajdeo Ranjan on Thursday against unknown assailants at the request of the Bihar government. Ranjan was shot at while on his way home on May 13 this year.