Man who questioned UP minister about development work arrested

The video went viral on social media, where villagers can be seen supporting the journalist and complaining about the status of development work.

In response to this, minister Gulab Devi can be seen addressing people and promising that the work is in process and will be completed, like in other villages.

After the event, local BJP leader Shubham Raghav, the BJYM district general secretary, filed a complaint at Chandausi police station alleging that the journalist interfered with government work and also assaulted him.

Police registered an FIR under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and arrested Rana under section 151 of CrPC. This section is intended to be used to prevent the commission of cognizable offences.

“The journalist was arrested and released later. An FIR has been registered against him on the complaint of a BJP leader where he has alleged that he was assaulted, harassed and intimidated by the journalist. We are investigating the matter,” said Satendra Pawar, SHO Chandausi.

The FIR states, “There was a ceremony on March 11 around 2 pm, where the minister also attended the program. I was also present there. A fake journalist named Sanjay Rana, of Moradabad Ujala YouTube channel, interfered in government work. I asked him not to do this, but he did not listen. He started abusing me and assaulted me. He threatened me while leaving.”

Rana denied the allegations and said he was only asking questions to the minister regarding genuine problems faced by villagers.