India News

Journalist Vinod Verma arrested over sex tape of Chhattisgarh minister

Published

9 years ago

October 27, 2017

[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]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtY29udmVyc2F0aW9uJTNEJTIybm9uZSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRUklMjBoYXZlJTIwYSUyMHNleCUyMENEJTIwb2YlMjBhJTIwQ2hoYXR0aXNnYXJoJTIwTWluaXN0ZXIlMkMlMjBoZSUyMGlzJTIwUmFqZXNoJTIwTXVuYXQlMjAlMjZhbXAlM0IlMjB0aGF0JTIwaXMlMjB3aHklMjBDaGhhdHRpc2dhcmglMjBHb3Z0JTIwaXMlMjBub3QlMjBoYXBweSUyMHdpdGglMjBtZSUzQSUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZWaW5vZFZlcm1hJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyNmFtcCUzQnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFJTIzVmlub2RWZXJtYSUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZwJTNFJTI2bWRhc2glM0IlMjBBTkklMjBVUCUyMCUyOCU0MEFOSU5ld3NVUCUyOSUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRkFOSU5ld3NVUCUyRnN0YXR1cyUyRjkyMzgxMzExMDAxNTY3MjMyMCUzRnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFT2N0b2JlciUyMDI3JTJDJTIwMjAxNyUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZibG9ja3F1b3RlJTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwYXN5bmMlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnBsYXRmb3JtLnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGd2lkZ2V0cy5qcyUyMiUyMGNoYXJzZXQlM0QlMjJ1dGYtOCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRQ==[/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]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJoaSUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRSVFMCVBNCVBRSVFMCVBNSU4MSVFMCVBNCU5RCVFMCVBNSU4NyUyMCVFMCVBNCU4NyVFMCVBNCVCOCVFMCVBNCVCMiVFMCVBNCVCRiVFMCVBNCU4RiUyMCVFMCVBNCU4NSVFMCVBNCVCMCVFMCVBNSU4NyVFMCVBNCVCOCVFMCVBNSU4RCVFMCVBNCU5RiUyMCVFMCVBNCU5NSVFMCVBNCVCRiVFMCVBNCVBRiVFMCVBNCVCRSUyMCVFMCVBNCU5NSVFMCVBNSU4RCVFMCVBNCVBRiVFMCVBNSU4QiVFMCVBNCU4MiVFMCVBNCU5NSVFMCVBNCVCRiUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRSVFMCVBNSU4NyVFMCVBNCVCMCVFMCVBNSU4NyUyMCVFMCVBNCVBQSVFMCVBNCVCRSVFMCVBNCVCOCUyMCVFMCVBNCU5QiVFMCVBNCVBNCVFMCVBNSU4RCVFMCVBNCVBNCVFMCVBNSU4MCVFMCVBNCVCOCVFMCVBNCU5NyVFMCVBNCVBMiVFMCVBNCVCQyUyMCVFMCVBNCU5NSVFMCVBNSU4NyUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRSVFMCVBNCU4MiVFMCVBNCVBNCVFMCVBNSU4RCVFMCVBNCVCMCVFMCVBNSU4MCUyMCVFMCVBNCU5NSVFMCVBNSU4MCUyMCVFMCVBNCVCOCVFMCVBNSU4MCVFMCVBNCVBMSVFMCVBNSU4MCUyMCVFMCVBNCVBNSVFMCVBNSU4MCVFMCVBNSVBNCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZWaW5vZFZlcm1hJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyNmFtcCUzQnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFJTIzVmlub2RWZXJtYSUzQyUyRmElM0UlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZoYXNodGFnJTJGQ2hoYXR0aXNnYXJoJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyNmFtcCUzQnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFJTIzQ2hoYXR0aXNnYXJoJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRnAlM0UlMjZtZGFzaCUzQiUyMFZpbm9kJTIwVmVybWElMjAlMjglNDBTaXJWaW5vZFZlcm1hJTI5JTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGU2lyVmlub2RWZXJtYSUyRnN0YXR1cyUyRjkyMzgxMDU1NTQyMDMxOTc0NCUzRnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFT2N0b2JlciUyMDI3JTJDJTIwMjAxNyUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZibG9ja3F1b3RlJTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwYXN5bmMlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnBsYXRmb3JtLnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGd2lkZ2V0cy5qcyUyMiUyMGNoYXJzZXQlM0QlMjJ1dGYtOCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:BJP Chhattisgarh Raman Singh

Up Next

Freedom of expression applies to films too: Madras HC on Mersal row

Don't Miss

RSS-affiliate demands ban on Friday namaz at Taj Mahal

India News

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over Gyanesh Kumar row

INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 amid growing opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Published

2 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise.

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process.

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt.

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously.

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting.

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.

India News

“Will die but won’t give up”: Sahil Wakode’s parents urge IIT students to continue fight

Sahil Wakode’s parents have appealed to IIT Bombay students to continue their fight for justice amid the ongoing investigation into their son’s death.

Published

3 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have appealed to students to continue raising their voices and fighting for justice following their son’s death.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at IIT Bombay, died in his hostel room on September 18. His death has led to student protests and an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

What Sahil Wakode’s parents have alleged

Sahil’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at IIT Bombay before his death. They have sought action against those they hold responsible and have demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family has also called for a CBI inquiry and has sought the arrest of officials named in the case. These remain allegations and are part of the ongoing investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the probe after an FIR was registered following the complaint by Sahil’s parents.

IIT Bombay’s position

IIT Bombay has said that Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. It said the matter had been discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death are being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

Investigation continues

The case remains under investigation, with the Mumbai Crime Branch examining the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death and the allegations made by his family.

His parents have continued to demand justice and action against those they believe were responsible, while the investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the case.

India News

Gyanesh Kumar meets election commissioners amid poll panel row

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar met Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi amid a controversy over reported objections to Election Commission decisions.

Published

3 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar held a meeting with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi amid an ongoing controversy over the functioning and decision-making process of the Election Commission of India.

The meeting comes days after a report raised questions over formal objections allegedly recorded by the two Election Commissioners regarding several decisions and orders of the poll panel.

The Election Commission has maintained that differing views, observations and suggestions are part of its normal deliberative process. It has also said that all decisions taken by the full Commission over the past year were unanimous.

What is the Election Commission controversy?

The controversy followed a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period.

The reported objections included issues concerning changes to Form 6, the handling of additions and deletions from electoral rolls and the centralisation of electoral-roll data.

Form 6 is the statutory form used for applying for registration as a voter.

The Election Commission, however, has disputed the suggestion that the objections amounted to dissent over final decisions. The poll body said written notes, observations, technical suggestions and internal checks and balances are standard parts of its functioning.

ECI says decisions were unanimous

The poll panel has said that all decisions taken by it during the past year were the outcome of unanimous decisions of the full Commission.

It also said that operational queries or inputs raised during the drafting stage are part of the normal administrative process and are intended to improve electoral procedures and safeguard voter rights.

The issue has gained significance because the Election Commission is conducting electoral-roll revisions, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), in several parts of the country.

Opposition parties have questioned the functioning of the poll panel and have cited the reported objections by the two Election Commissioners in their criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Political parties seek clarification

The controversy has also prompted calls for greater clarity from political parties, including some parties that are allies of the BJP-led NDA.

LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, TDP Lok Sabha floor leader Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha have sought clarification from the Election Commission regarding concerns surrounding the voter-list revision and the reported objections.

The Election Commission has continued to maintain that its decisions have followed the applicable laws, rules and established procedures.