Kaler Kantho Journalist Attacked, Phone Snatched During Live Broadcast in Bangladesh
October 18, 2025
Patricia Evangelista Condemns Killings of Journalists in Gaza at Frankfurt Book Fair
October 19, 2025
October 18, 2025 – India –
The Rajasthan Police picked up two Bhopal-based journalists from Madhya Pradesh on 17 October 2025, alleging their news portal published false and defamatory reports about Diya Kumari, the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan. The journalists, Anand Pandey (Editor-in-Chief) and Harish Divekar (Managing Editor) of the Hindi news outlet “The Sootr”, were accused of circulating unverified stories, demanding ₹5 crore to remove them, and planning a so-called “Destroy Diya” campaign.
According to the complaint lodged at Jaipur’s Karni Vihar police station by a staffer of the Deputy CM, the portal had published nearly a dozen purportedly baseless stories in the previous month. The Rajasthan Police statement claimed their investigation found the reports were “not based on facts” and uncovered an “illegal demand” for money tied to removing the stories.
The Sootr’s team rejected the allegations, saying their reporting was backed by “proper documentation and verifiable evidence”, and labelled the detentions as “nothing short of an attempt to intimidate and silence independent journalism”.
On 18 October 2025, the duo was released after questioning but were served notices requiring them to reappear in five days. The police nonetheless indicated ongoing procedures and potential further action if demands or threats were verified.
The incident sparked criticism from press-freedom advocates and opposition figures. A senior Congress leader described the detentions as an “attack on democracy”, arguing journalists should not be held for reporting allegedly critical stories about public officials.
In sum, this case raises serious concerns about the environment for investigative journalism in India and the space given to reporting on powerful officials. The crossover of jurisdiction—Rajasthan police detaining journalists based in Madhya Pradesh—adds complexity and underscores the potential reach of state power in press-related matters. The question of whether the two journalists were legitimately detained for defamatory reporting or targeted for independent journalism remains a significant matter for media freedom and accountability.
Reference –
