‘Defamatory Content’ Against Dutee Chand: Web Channel Editor, Reporter Arrested; RTI Activist Clears The Air

Bhubaneswar: The Mahila Police here on Friday arrested Smruti Ranjan Behera, a reporter of the web channel accused of carrying ‘defamatory content’ against Olympian Dutee Chand.

The editor of the channel Sudhansu Sekhar Rout was picked up by police from his office at Jagamara the previous day and later arrested. Police have also seized some documents, computer and hard disk from Rout’s office.

In her complaint, the ace sprinter from Odisha had made serious allegations of threats, defamation, sexual harassment and insulting modesty of a woman against Rout and Behera.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Dutee said that she was hurt by the news stories telecast by the web channel. She alleged that the senior journalist had demanded money from her for not airing an interview in which her family members reportedly spoke about their personal issues with her. This had an adverse impact on her performance during the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, she added.

She even threatened to leave Odisha if justice was denied to her.

On the basis of her complaint, a case has been registered against them under Sections 292 (obscene and indecent publication), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 385 (Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation), 504 (whoever intentionally insults, and thereby gives provocation to any person), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and Section 6 of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, police sources said.

She has also accused Pradip Pradhan, an RTI activist, of mental harassment and criminal intimidation.

Dutee has also filed a Rs 5 crore defamation lawsuit against Rout and Pradhan for maligning her reputation. She accused the social activist of levelling fabricated allegations against her of misusing government funds.​

“Due to her poor show in the Games, there were a lot of comments on social media and I had only shared my views. I have not given any adverse comments against her. You can see them on social media,” the RTI activist told the media on Saturday.

Also Read: Web Of Deceit: Odisha Journalists Land On The Wrong Side Of Law