J’khand cops to question four Delhi journalists
ACCORDING TO THE POLICE, THE FIR BY FORMER CM SOREN HAS NOT NAMED ANY REPORTER OR NEWS CHANNEL
RANCHI: The Jharkhand police will question four TV news channel reporters regarding the source of their information broadcast after alleged seizure of Rs 36 lakh in cash and a BMW car from Delhi-based residence of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on January 29, people aware of the development said on Wednesday.
“The TV channels include Aaj Tak, Zee, News 18 and News 24,” a police officer familiar with the development said.
The investigation is related to a case filed by Soren with the ST/SC police station in Ranchi on January 31, in which he had accused Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials of insulting him for being a member of ST (scheduled tribe) community.
To be sure, the FIR (first information report) has not named any reporter or news channel, according to police.
“Soren has complained that when he arrived in Ranchi on January 30, he came to know about the ED action at his residence in Delhi through the media. He alleged that the information suggested that an operation was conducted at Jharkhand Bhawan, and 5/01, Shanti Niketan in New Delhi, to harass and defame him and his entire community of tribals and the officials are non-tribal. On January 27 and 28, 2024, he visited New Delhi and stayed at the Shanti Niketan property, which is taken on lease by the State of Jharkhand for housing and office use. On January 29, 2024, he came to know that ED officials, along with others, had allegedly conducted searches in that premises. This search was done without any information to him and this has disgraced him in the eyes of the general public,” the police officer said, quoting the FIR.
“The FIR was registered under SC/ST Act’s sections 3(1) (p) (instituting false, malicious or vexatious legal proceedings), (r) (intentional insult or intimidation to humiliate to any place within public law), (s) (abusing by caste name in any place within public view), (u) (promoting feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will),” said the officer, who requested anonymity.
Ranchi senior superintendent of police (SSP) Chandan Kumar Sinha confirmed the development. “Action is being taken by the investigating officer (IO) of the case,” he said.
Officer-in-charge of ST/SC police station, Mahesh Munda, too confirmed the plan to question the journalists.
IO Deepak Kumar Ray was not available for comment.
Another police officer said reporters concerned were summoned 10 days ago but refused to turn up in Ranchi.
On March 4, the Jharkhand High Court had directed that “no coercive” action be taken against ED officials in a similar FIR against them filed at ST/SC police station. The probe agency had challenged the FIR against its officials.