Journalist Vinod Verma was sent to a three-day police custody on Sunday, 29 October. He was arrested by Chhattisgarh Police over a case of alleged blackmailing and extortion.
The journalist had alleged that he had in his possession, a sex CD involving Chhattisgarh PWD Minister Rajesh Munat, which is why the reigning government forces had had him arrested.
In response to this and to the alleged ‘sex CD’, Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh has called for a CBI probe, which according to him, will ‘reveal’ all facts, reported PTI. Additionally, the CM has pointed a finger at the Congress for the entire incident, accusing them of playing ‘cheap politics’ for power.
He will be produced before the Raipur court at 11 am on 31 October. According to the defence counsel, the journalist has also moved an application under section 156 (3) of the CrPC in the court today, claiming that he was framed.
We could not even imagine that the Congress will play such cheap politics for power. We are also in politics and consider this a medium to serve the people. Our party can never think of committing immoral acts for political gains,” Singh said told reporters at his official residence.Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh PWD Minister Rajesh Munat had filed a complaint against Verma and state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel for allegedly tarnishing his image through a "fake" sex CD.
A case was registered on Friday, 27 October, at the Raipur’s Civil Lines police station against Baghel, Verma, and others under Section 67(a) of the Information Technology Act, following the minister's complaint, Station House Officer Hem Prakash Nayak told PTI.
Chhattisgarh Minister Prakash Pandey said that the Cabinet decided to transfer the case to the CBI for probe.
After his arrest in Ghaziabad, the senior journalist on Friday, 27 October, claimed that a sex CD supposedly recovered from him by the Chhattisgarh Police involved a minister in Chief Minister Raman Singh’s Cabinet.
He identified the minister as Rajesh Munat, who holds the PWD portfolio.
Verma was arrested from his Indirapuram residence in Ghaziabad early Friday morning on charges of extortion and blackmail. Verma was initially picked up from his house for questioning by the Ghaziabad Police, and was later arrested by a team of Raipur Police, reported NDTV.
However, on his way to the court, Verma told a posse of TV news crews that the CD recovered from him showed Munat in an explicit moment with a woman. The video clip is purportedly a minute-and-a-half long.
Press Club Meeting Over Arrest on Saturday
Press Club of India held a meeting in Delhi on 28 October, 4 pm over the arrest of Vinod Verma.
Verma’s bail plea was rejected by a court, which also granted Chhattisgarh police his transit remand till 30 October, his lawyer said.
Verma was produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Archna after his arrest.
‘Sex CD is Fake’, Alleges Munat
Reacting to Verma’s allegations of a sex CD, Munat said that the CD was fake, while requesting the CM to launch a ‘forensic investigation’ into the matter.
Sex CD is fake, I appeal to the CM to get this investigated from any agency. I condemn this.
Congress, BJP Spar Over Verma’s Arrest
The BJP on Friday, 27 October, hit out at the Congress saying that it was shameful that the opposition party was confusing media freedom with criminal activities. The comments came after the Congress accused the ruling party of squeezing press freedom, following the police taking journalist Vinod Verma into custody on extortion charges.
After the arrest of senior journalist Vinod Verma by the Chhattisgarh police, the Congress had demanded his immediate release and accused the BJP, which is in power in that state, of squeezing media freedom.
“It is coming to light that he was investigating about Chhattisgarh’s PWD minister Rajesh Munat and there are some serious charges against him…. He (Verma) was looking into sex-related serious allegations against him… So Chhattisgarh police picked him up from his house at night…. This is a very serious issue,” Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken said at an AICC press conference.
He said Verma’s arrest cannot be seen in isolation. “The way the Chhattisgarh government and the Narendra Modi government have been attacking press freedom… this is not a one-off incident… it is a long list…. And you will remember a Union Minister had called journalists presstitutes, the Prime Minister called media bazaroo…” he said.
BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao responded to this by saying that the Congress was showing its “political bankruptcy” by defending Verma. "It is utterly shameful that the Congress is confused between media freedom and criminal activities beyond the realm of media space. Attempt to blackmail is a serious criminal offence and the Congress is showing its political bankruptcy by defending it," BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said.
CDs and Pen Drive Seized from Verma’s Residence
Reports suggest that Verma was planning an investigation against a Chhattisgarh minister. The police also seized around 3,000 CDs and a pen drive from his residence.
Verma is a freelance journalist, and has worked with BBC and Amar Ujala in the past.
Additionally, a member of the Editors Guild, his colleagues told NDTV that he was a part of the Guild’s fact-finding team that was looking into the "intimidation of journalists in Chhattisgarh".
Verma was reportedly arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by an aide of a Chhattisgarh minister, against whom he had "incriminating evidence".
The complaint was of blackmail over a sex tape that allegedly involved the minister. Speaking to Times Now, Verma claimed that he was being targeted because of the tape.
I have a sex CD which has a Chhattisgarh minister. That is why the Chhattisgarh government is not happy with me. (sic.)
Police Mum on Contents of Video
Acting on the complaint, the police raided a Delhi shop where over 1,000 copies of the tape were found. The shop owner allegedly named Verma as the person who authorised the copies.
Speaking to ANI, the IG of Raipur Police said, “Investigation is underway. We can’t reveal the details of the CD, but the contents violate Section 67 of IT Act.”
(With inputs from PTI and IANS.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)