The authors of upcoming book Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story, met Delhi Police Commissioner on Wednesday and handed over complaint against Prof Nandini Sundar, the book’s former publisher Bloomsbury and prominent writers and journalists. The authors alleged cheating, breach of trust and invoked multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code. The authors, led by Advocate Monica Arora, met the commissioner in his office at the Police Headquarters and handed over their letter of complaint. 

Most of those named in the complaint have countered it with facts. This is the statement by Prof: Nandini Sundar, shared over social media: 

“ I have just seen a copy of the absurd complaint filed with the Delhi Police Commissioner by Advocate Monica Arora, co-author of the book, ‘Delhi Riots 2020’, in which she says, ‘I even received a legal notice from Ms. Nandini Sundar questioning the Foreward and one chapter of the book. How in the world would they have got their hands on the book if not for this unauthorized circulation. As on date, there is no other physical copy in existence except for those 100 copies that had been delivered to me. Thus, despite knowing such a version was “stolen property” neither the aforesaid media houses nor Ms. Sundar chose to take any appropriate legal measures to bring it to the notice of authorities.’

There have been tweets and news reports about the contents of the book since August 22, when the chief guest of the launch function himself tweeted: “The book is public now”. Monika Arora, who was best situated to judge whether these reports were based on “stolen property” has chosen to keep quiet about it till now.

If Arora or Bloomsbury have not complained about any “stolen property’, what business is it of mine “to take any appropriate legal measures to bring it to the notice of authorities”?

A few days ago, one of the book’s co-authors was on NDTV discussing the contents and expressing her inability to have fact-checked the foreword. She said nothing about “stolen property” at the time, nor did she or the other co-authors immediately file a complaint about the “theft” with the police.

Significantly, Ms Arora does not deny that the “stolen” book contains inaccurate statements about myself that infringe the law. Yet, as a restrained measure, I just brought it to their notice. This reaction is laughable.”

Related:

Book on Delhi’s communal riots to be printed now with right-wing support
Bloomsbury India withdraws publication of one sided book on Delhi Riots, after outrage
Riot book authors meet Delhi Police Commissioner, file complaint against 

The post Why did Monika Arora keep quiet about “stolen property” till now? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Authors of upcoming book Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story, met Delhi Police Commissioner on Wednesday and handed over complaint against the book’s former publisher Bloomsbury allegeding cheating, breach of trust and invoked multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code. The authors, led by Advocate Monica Arora, met the commissioner in his office at the Police Headquarters and handed over their letter of complaint where they have also named activists, writers and journalists, seeking that they too be investigated under the IPC sections.

The, now Garuda Publisher affiliated authors have alleged that Bloomsbury publishers, who had eventually refused to publish the one-sided book, and the other writers they have named, who are based across the globe, have indulged in “misappropriation of property, illegal receipt and retention of stolen property, criminal intimidation, statements creating and promoting enmity between classes etc.” They have named professor Nandini Sundar, poet Meena Kandasamy, Journalists Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Aatish Tasser, writer William Darymple, and activist Saket Gokhale, as well as news portals The Quint, and Newslaundry.

The matter came to light when poet Meena Kandasamy, tweeted that she had been approached by a journalist to comment on the issue, “Wow….. just learnt this. now coming after us with state machinery.”

Wow….. just learnt this. now coming after us with state machinery.

We will not allow literature and publishing to platform hate. @SaketGokhale @nandinisundar @DalrympleWill @khanumarfa @BloomsburyIndia @BloomsburyBooks @AatishTaseer @TheQuint @newslaundry pic.twitter.com/a02cdEzfKw

— meena kandasamy || இளவேனில் (@meenakandasamy) September 3, 2020

Journalist Navneet Mishra also confirmed the meeting and posted that the authors “have been very upset over the intimidation and violation of their right of freedom of expression over the past few days since 22.08.2020. They informed the Commissioner of the happenings related to the book ‘Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story’.”

The authors of the upcoming book Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story met the Commissioner of Police at Police HQ New Delhi.The complaint was made against Bloomsbury Ltd, Nandini Sundar, Aatish Taseer, WilliamDarlymple, Saket Gokhale , Arfa Khanum Sherwani @advmonikaarora pic.twitter.com/xOsOEVJovG

— Navneet Mishra (@navneetmishra99) September 3, 2020

He even shared these photos of the meeting: 

This is the purported letter the authors have handed over to the police. It is alleged that the PDF of the book was leaked, and the writers and activists then ‘pressurised’ the publishers to withdraw the book. 

The book Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story, claims to be an ‘expose’ on Delhi’s February 2020 communal riots, and was launched by the authors themselves, six months after the communal violence. The book was ‘launched’ online by the authors themselves because the publishers Bloomsbury India had refused to be associated with the event. Bloomsbury had even accused the authors of using their brand logo at the launch without permission. Later scores of activists, authors, journalists, and readers also raised concerns about the one-sided book. Bloomsbury withdrew the book, and announced that they will no longer be publishing it after the online launch by the authors, and their supporters.

Soon, another publishing house, Garuda Prakashan came forward to publish the title. Garuda is founded by Sankrant Sanu. The Lede, in an article on influencers of trolls, had added him to the list of notables. They have been successful with the acquisition of this title and have claimed massive advance orders for the book.

Related:

Book on Delhi’s communal riots to be printed now with right-wing support
Bloomsbury India withdraws publication of one sided book on Delhi Riots, after outrage

The post Riot book authors meet Delhi Police Commissioner, file complaint against Bloomsbury and others appeared first on SabrangIndia.