Editors Guild of India notes with deep concern the news that Jharkhand police has registered an First Information Report (FIR) under IPC sections 469, 501, and 502, against the chief editor of Prabhat Khabar, Mr. Ashutosh Chaturvedi, Resident Editor Mr. Vijay Kant Pathak, as well as the MD, Mr. Rajeev Jhawar, in response to a complaint filed by one Mr. Jogendra Tiwari.
It must be noted that Mr. Tiwari, who is currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail, had allegedly made threatening calls to Mr. Chaturvedi in response to some reports published in the newspaper on charges filed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), against some members of the liquor mafia in the state.
On December 30, 2023, the Guild had written to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, as well as the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and the DGP, urging the government to initiate an inquiry in this, and to take necessary steps for ensuring the safety of Mr. Chaturvedi.
The Guild reiterates its earlier demands and urges the state government and the police to complete the investigation into earlier complaint of Mr. Chaturvedi.
The Guild also expresses its deep concern on the misuse of criminal defamation laws against journalists in an effort to intimidate and harass them. It’s been a long-standing demand of the Guild that criminal defamation law be scrapped, and such matters be left to be adjudicated in civil domain. The Guild statement has been issued by Anant Nath, President, Ruben Banerjee, General Secretary and K Ve Prasad, Treasurer.