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

Bhubaneswar: Online journalists in Odisha are making news these days, ironically for all the wrong reasons.

In the latest row to rock the media fraternity, ace sprinter and Olympian Dutee Chand has charged a web-based  journalist of posting obscene and defamatory content against her.

Also Read: Odisha Olympian Dutee Chand Files Defamation & Criminal Cases Against Web Portal Journalist

Dutee has even threatened to quit Odisha if she didn’t get justice.

She has accused journalist Sudhansu Sekhar Rout and RTI activist Pradip Pradhan of running a malicious campaign on social media when she was preparing for the 200m event at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Olympian has filed a defamation case of Rs 5 crore. She has also levelled charges of criminal intimidation, publishing obscene content and insulting modesty of woman against the accused journalist.

Interestingly, Dutee’s press conference to make the matter public on Thursday came on the same day that the Supreme Court expressed “grave concern” over spread of fake news on web portals, Facebook and YouTube in the absence of a regulatory mechanism.

UP Cops Come Calling

Uttar Pradesh Police are on the hunt for a news portal journalist in Bhubaneswar.

Police said the journalist, who was not identified, extorted money from different business establishments by opening a fake e-mail account in the name of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Also Read: UP Police Hunt For Web Portal Scribe In Odisha Capital; Know Extortion & Other Charges

Sources said the scribe resides on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

According to the modus operandi, the accused allegedly strikes a deal with a big business establishment to demand money by threatening to publish news against them on his web portal.

He has collected around Rs 1.5 crore in the last six months, sources said.

The UP Police have also come to know that the wife of the scribe was working as a news anchor in a private channel earlier.

Businessman Kidnap

A woman journalist of a private web channel and four others were arrested for allegedly kidnapping and extorting money from a businessman in Bhubaneswar.

Also Read: Woman Journalist Among 5 Arrested For ‘Kidnapping’ Businessman In Bhubaneswar

Police said the accused had lured the Barbil-based businessman and his associate from Kendrapara to Bhubaneswar on the pretext of a deal. The two were kept hostage on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and the accused demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh to release them, police added.

The duo was released two days later after their family members reportedly paid Rs 50,000 to the abductors.

Govt Official Robbed

A correspondent of an Odia news channel and four others were arrested for allegedly robbing a government official of Rs 8 lakh in Mathili block of Malkangiri district.

Also Read: Journalist Among Five Held For Robbing Govt Official Of Over Rs 8 Lakh In Odisha

Police said the journalist, Prashant Kumar Sagaria, along with the mastermind, Ram Chandra Nag, and three other accused had looted the amount by brandishing knives from the Mathili Soil Conservation Office.

Besides these tainted cases, persons posing as journalists for their nefarious activities are also a headache for Odisha. Several such fakes were arrested across the state recently.

Medical Seat Scam

Police had arrested a man in Bhubaneswar for posing as a journalist and duping a medical aspirant of Rs 15 lakh.

Also Read: Medical Seat Scam: Fake Journalist Arrested In Odisha Capital

According to the complainant, Sunil Samantray had introduced himself as a journalist working with a media house. He then took Rs 15 lakh from the complainant, promising him to get a seat at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

The accused even issued a fake letter and attached it with a demand draft in the name of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).

Police have Samantray’s arrest will help their investigation into the medical seat scam in Odisha.

Road Rage

Police had detained a fake journalist for allegedly brandishing a gun over an incident of road rage on a busy street in Bhubaneswar recently.

Also Read: Fake Journalist Held With Gun On Bhubaneswar Road

Police said the accused, Arabinda Mishra, had an argument with a person over the latter overtaking his vehicle. Following this, Arabinda threatened the person with a gun.

During interrogation, the accused claimed he was a journalist.

Fake DD Chief

Police had arrested a man for allegedly duping a woman by posing himself as the news head of DD National Channel.

Also Read: Fake TV Journalist Arrested For Duping Woman In Bhubaneswar

According to the complainant, accused Rincon Narayan had introduced himself as news head of DD. He had taken Rs 97,000 from the complainant with promise to help her launch a web channel.

Later, the complainant came to know that Narayan didn’t hold any post in DD and filed a police complaint.

Extortion Attempt

Burla police have arrested two fake web portal scribes for allegedly trying to extort money from a man.

Also Read: After Bhubaneswar & Ganjam, ‘Fake’ Journalists Arrested For Extortion In Odisha’s Burla

According to sources, the two accused had introduced themselves as journalists with good links with senior police officers. They had demanded Rs 50,000 from the complainant and threatened to implicate him in a false case if he didn’t pay the money.