English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Journalist Vinod Verma arrested over sex tape of Chhattisgarh minister

Published

on

Vinod Verma

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Police charge the veteran journalist for extortion and blackmail as Opposition parties and mediapersons express shock, say this is an attack on press freedom

Veteran journalist Vinod Verma, who was part of a fact-finding team constituted by the Editors Guild of India which probed cases of alleged intimidation of journalists by the Chhattisgarh government last year, was on Friday arrested from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh on charges of extortion and blackmailing a minister in the Raman Singh-led BJP government.

Verma claimed that the police action against him was because he was in possession of a pen drive that had video footage purportedly showing a senior minister of the Chhattisgarh government in a compromising position with a woman. The senior freelance journalist, who has formerly worked with the BBC Hindi Service and served as digital editor of Amar Ujala, has claimed that he was arrested before he could break the ‘story’ about Chhattisgarh’s PWD, environment and transport minister, Rajesh Moonat.

However, the Chhattisgarh police which nabbed Verma from his residence in Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram with help from their UP counterparts in the wee hours of Friday, refuted the journalist’s claim.

The Chhattisgarh police, which said Verma was arrested on charges of blackmail and extortion, possessed about 500 porn CDs, Rs 2 lakh in cash, a pen drive, a laptop and a diary at his Mahagun Mansion apartment residence in Indirapuram.

Raipur Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shukla claimed that Verma had also been booked under stringent provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act for possession and attempted circulation of pornographic content. The Raipur SP said that the complainant in the case against Verma was a man named Prakash Bajaj (a member of the Chhattisgarh BJP unit’s working committee).

“Bajaj has lodged a complaint at the Pandri police station (in Raipur, Chhattisgarh) that he was being harassed over phone by an unidentified caller who told him that he had a CD of his master (Chhattisgarh minister Rajesh Moonat),” Shukla told mediapersons.

The police official, however, declined to comment on whether the CDs reportedly recovered from Verma’s possession actually showed Moonat engaging in illicit sexual activity and did not offer any details on the exact nature of the alleged extortion and blackmailing charges being slapped against the senior journalist.

Verma , on his part told mediapersons while he was being taken by the police to the Ghaziabad district court, that the Chhattisgarh government was not happy with him and was trying to frame him under charges of extortion and blackmail.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Verma told journalists that the sex CD purportedly featuring Rajesh Moonat, who happens to be a close aide of Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, was already in the public domain and that he had nothing to do with its production.

The Chhattisgarh police claim that the complainant in the case, Chhattisgarh BJP leader Prakash Bajaj had told them that Verma had threatened to distribute the sex CD “if he was not given what he asked for”.

“During the probe, the police came to know about a shop where the CD in question was copied. The shopkeeper told the police that one Vinod Verma had got 1,000 copies made of the CD,” Raipur SP Shukla said.

As news of Verma’s arrest spread, many senior journalists from the electronic and print media gathered outside the Ghaziabad police station.

In Raipur, inspector general of police Pradeep Gupta told reporters that Verma;s arrest was made because the confiscated CDs could malign the reputation of a prominent person and that the police was trying to obtain his remand to bring him to Raipur for interrogation.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh PWD minister Rajesh Moonat who allegedly features in the sex CD, convened a press conference in Raipur and claimed that the “sex CD is fake” while he requested chief minister Raman Singh to have the matter investigated.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]However, the pre-dawn police action against Verma – a member of the Editors Guild of India – has evoked sharp criticism from the media fraternity and Opposition leaders, many of whom had reached the Ghaziabad court to condemn the arrest or took to social media to term the incident as a reminder of the days of Emergency and a crackdown against journalists who question the BJP.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Prior to his formal arrest and the court granting his custody to the Chhattisgarh police, Verma too posted a series of tweets conceding that he had a sex CD of a Chhattisgarh minister and that journalists were being intimidated.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah meets PM Modi in Delhi

Since the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory in 2019, the police force has been under the jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry.

Published

on

Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday during his first visit to the national capital since taking office recently.

He is expected to submit a resolution passed by his Cabinet, calling for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood.

Following an outstanding victory in the recent Assembly elections in the Union Territory, where Abdullah’s National Conference secured 42 out of the 90 Assembly seats, this marks a significant political development.

During its first Cabinet meeting, the new government passed a resolution urging the central government to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood, which was subsequently approved by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

The move towards reinstating statehood is viewed as a critical step in promoting reconciliation, upholding constitutional rights, and preserving the distinctive identity of the region’s inhabitants.

Endorsed by his Cabinet, the Chief Minister now has the authority to engage with the Prime Minister and the central government to advocate for the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood.

Abdullah also engaged with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, discussing road connectivity projects in Jammu and Kashmir during their meeting at Gadkari’s office, where Abdullah presented a traditional Kashmiri shawl.

On Wednesday, the Chief Minister had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to address various issues concerning the Union Territory, focusing on the prompt restoration of Statehood. This meeting was described as a courtesy call, during which Abdullah briefed the Union Home Minister on the situation and the Statehood restoration matter.

https://twitter.com/JKNC_/status/1849117896858833290

Abdullah’s visit followed a recent tragic terror attack in the Gangangeer area of Ganderbal district, where seven individuals, including a doctor, were ruthlessly killed by terrorists just three days prior.

Since the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory in 2019, the police force has been under the jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry.

Continue Reading

India News

Cyclone Dana: Over 300 trains cancelled as storm approaches Odisha coast, Kolkata airport halts ops

Ahead of Cyclone Dana’s landfall, all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, will remain closed in 14 districts of Odisha until October 25.

Published

on

As many as 300 trains have been cancelled by Indian Railways on account of cyclonic storm Dana which is expected to make landfall on Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha by Friday. The Kolkata airport has suspended all its operations starting at 6 pm on Thursday as a precautionary measure ahead of Cyclone ‘Dana’.

Flight operations at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will remain suspended for 16 hours from Thursday evening given cyclone ‘Dana’.

“Airport operation will be suspended from 5 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25 due to cyclone ‘Dana’,” the statement said.

Around 150 trains were cancelled including Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express, Kamakhya-Yesvantpur AC Express, Howrah-Puri Shatabdi Express, Howrah-Bhubaneswar Shatabdi Express and Howrah-Yesvantpur Express.

Additionally, the East Coast Railways has cancelled 198 trains, including Howrah-Secunderabad, Shalimar Puri, Kamakhya-Bangalore, New Delhi-Bhubaneswar, Kharagpur-Villupuram, Howrah-Bhubaneswar, Shalimar-Hyderbad, Howrah-Puri, and others.

Furthermore, the EMU local train service from Sealdah station and Hasnabad in West Bengal will remain suspended from 8 pm on Thursday to Friday.

The Eastern Railways has also cancelled several express trains, including Patna-Ernakulam Express, Kolkata-Puri, Puri-Kolkata, Dibrugarh-Kanniyakumari, and Bengaluru-Guwahati, among others.

Cyclone ‘Dana’, expected to have wind speeds reaching up to 120 km/h (75 mph), is forecasted to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha by Friday morning as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The cyclonic storm ‘Dana,’ originating over the east-central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, is likely to bring heavy rainfall to various southern West Bengal districts, including Kolkata, according to the IMD.

An official from the Meteorological Department mentioned that parts of Jharkhand might witness heavy to very heavy rainfall starting Thursday night due to the influence of cyclonic storm ‘Dana’.

In Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed that over 30 percent of the targeted 1 million people have been successfully evacuated to safe places by Wednesday evening in preparation for cyclone Dana. The government aimed to evacuate 1,060,336 individuals from 14 districts by Tuesday.

Ahead of Cyclone Dana’s landfall, all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, will remain closed in 14 districts of Odisha until October 25.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that she would stay overnight in Nabanna to oversee the landfall and reassured that all necessary measures have been implemented to lessen the storm’s impact.

The Railway Ministry has conducted a review of preparations and directed to minimise traffic disruptions, as mentioned by General Manager of East Coast Railway Parmeshwar Funkwal.

Both the Odisha and West Bengal teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been put on standby. Furthermore, rescue and relief teams from the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard are on high alert.

As Cyclone ‘Dana’ is expected to hit the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha on October 24-25, the Indian Coast Guard is on high alert and has positioned its vessels and aircraft strategically to swiftly respond to any maritime emergencies.

@IndiaCoastGuard Region (North East) has initiated preventive measures ahead of Cyclone ‘DANA’, expected to make landfall off #WestBengal and #Odisha between 24-25 Oct 24. Our ships, helicopters, and Dornier aircraft are fully prepared for assistance, rescue and relief operations,” it said in a post on X.

Continue Reading

India News

Congress hits back after BJP claims Kharge insulted at Priyanka Gandhi’s nomination filing

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, former Union Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Amit Malviya were among the BJP leaders who targeted the Congress for allegedly insulting Kharge.

Published

on

The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the BJP after it claimed that grand old party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior Dalit leader was insulted at the time when Priyanka Gandhi was filing her nomination for Wayanad Lok Sabha byelections.

Several senior BJP leaders including Ministers and Chief Minister shared the now-viral video clip purportedly showing Kharge waiting to enter the venue where Priyanka was filing her nomination.

In the viral video, Kharge is seen looking through the door of the room where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was filing her nomination papers for Wayanad.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, former Union Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Amit Malviya were among the BJP leaders who targeted the Congress for allegedly insulting Kharge.

The Congress, however, responded promptly by posting pictures that showed Kharge seated with senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Commenting on Shekhawat’s post, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate wrote in Hindi, “Shekhawat ji, in order to move ahead, he changed from a minister to a cheap, lying troll! At the time of filing nomination, a limited number of people (here 5) can enter. Kharge ji, Sonia ji and Rahul ji were outside. When we went inside, Kharge ji sat in the front row. Your Nadda ji is removed by pulling his hand.”

Shrinate dismissed the BJP leader Amit Malviya’s claims, stating, “You cheap liar. I wish you knew a thing or two about elections and how many people at any given time are allowed inside besides the candidate. Kharge ji, Sonia ji and Rahul Ji waited for some people to exit before they came in. Now see these pics and shut up.”

The exchange continued with Shrinate responding emphatically to the BJP leaders, calling out Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement as “disheartening” and based on “arrogance & entitlement of the Sonia family”.

She also dismissed Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s allegations as a “lying troll” and “buffoonery”.

“Tough to imagine, this lying troll was once a minister! See the pics and shut up BTW despite losing the election and not being a Member of Parliament anymore, why does @RajeevRC_X still have a grey badge? Courtesy his former associates who now work with X?” she wrote.

In addition, the official X handle of BJP India shared the same 30-second video and made provocative remarks, stating, “If the Gandhi family can insult Kharge ji like this, then one can imagine how much hatred they must have for the Dalit community.”

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com