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This is an archive article published on March 4, 2022
Raipur journalist held for writing satire against govt
The complaint against Nilesh Sharma, editor of Indiawriters.co.in and its magazine, was filed by Congress member Khilawan Nishad with the Raipur cyber police.
Nishad alleged that the fictional characters in Sharma’s articles under his ‘Ghurwa Ke Maati' column resembled state ministers and Congress legislators. (Representational)
A Raipur-based journalist was arrested on Wednesday after he wrote political satires allegedly critical of the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh government.
The complaint against Nilesh Sharma, editor of Indiawriters.co.in and its magazine, was filed by Congress member Khilawan Nishad with the Raipur cyber police. Nishad alleged that the fictional characters in Sharma’s articles under his ‘Ghurwa Ke Maati’ column resembled state ministers and Congress legislators. He also claimed that the journalist used derogatory remarks in his column and drove a wedge between ministers.
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After forming the government in 2018, the Congress had promised a law to protect journalists against harassment. A draft bill was shared with the public for feedback last year.
Sharma has been booked under IPC sections 505 (public mischief) 505 (1) (whoever makes or publishes rumour) and 505 (2) (promoting enmity or hatred).
“We have registered the FIR as Sharma was writing baseless articles spreading misinformation and rumors,” a senior police officer said. The media fraternity in the state termed the arrest an attempt to curb dissent against the state government.
In the police complaint, Sharma has been accused of being right wing. However, he had published similar political articles critical of the erstwhile BJP government.
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In a separate incident, a journalist was beaten up by a BJP leader in Raipur on Thursday. BJP’s Durg Zila Panchayat member Monu Sahu was arrested and remanded to jail for 15 days the following day. According to the FIR, Sahu beat up journalist Dhirendra Giri over a personal enmity.
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