House panel recommends 5-day jail for 4 journalists for ‘defaming’ MLC

Mitkari had filed a breach of privilege motion against the four Akola-based journalists — Ganesh Sonawane, Harshada Sonawane, Amol Nandurkar and Ankush Gawande — and Satya Ladha editor Satish Deshmukh. Lad informed the Council that the Special Privileges Committee conducted an inquiry into the complaint and concluded that Ganesh Sonawane, Harshada Sonawane, Nandurkar and Gawande were responsible for broadcasting defamatory and misleading material. The committee recommended no action against Deshmukh, as he has submitted a written apology, said Lad. The panel has proposed that the four journalists be sentenced to five days imprisonment. It suggested that the four journalists be punished during the ongoing winter session of the state legislature, or, if that is not possible, the recommendation must be implemented in next session.