Yogi Adityanath Defamation Row: Supreme Court to Hear Case Tomorrow as 4 Arrests by UP Police Over Social Media Post Sparks Controversy
Kanojia was picked up from his residence on Friday by two personnel of the UP police dressed in civilian clothes. A day later, two other journalists - Ishita Singh and Anuj Shukla - the respective editor and head of a Noida-based news channel were also arrested.
New Delhi, June 10: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea tomorrow filed by the wife of a Delhi-based journalist Prakash Kanojia, who has been arrested for an "objectionable" social media post against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The petitioner has demanded judicial intervention, calling the arrest "illegal".
Kanojia was picked up from his residence on Friday by two personnel of the UP police dressed in civilian clothes. A day later, two other journalists - Ishita Singh and Anuj Shukla - the respective editor and head of a Noida-based news channel were also arrested. Editors' Guild Condemns Journalist Prashant Kanojia's Arrest by UP Police, Issues Statement
On Sunday, another person was arrested from Gorakhpur, the stronghold of Yogi Adityanath.
The Editors' Guild of India also issued a statement condemning the arrests, saying that the FIR was not registered by the victim of defamation, but through suo moto cognizance, which reflects the arbitrary "use of state power and machinery".
Statement Issued by Editors' Guild:
The "obnoxious" social media post, on the basis of which the arrests were made, showed the clip of a woman alleging outside the CM Office that she has received a "marriage proposal" from Yogi Adityanath.
Notably, the Chief Minister is a "Yogi" who has renounced materialistic world and personal life. The social media post, which accused him of having a love affair, has offended a section of his supporters and followers as the BJP leader lives a "sanyasi" life. Apart from being the CM, he is also the head priest of the revered Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur.
According to the Editors' Guild, the action against journalists is unreasonable irrespective of the fact whether the woman's allegations were defamatory or now.
"Whatever the accuracy of the woman's claims, to register a case of criminal defamation against the journalist for sharing it on the social media and airing it on a television channel is a brazen misuse of law," the top body of journalists said in its statement.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 10, 2019 01:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).