Journalist Vinod Verma arrested on charge of blackmailing Chhattisgarh Minister with sex CD
GHAZIABAD: Former BBC journalist Vinod Verma was arrested by the Chhattisgarh police from his Ghaziabad residence early Friday morning on the charge of him blackmailing a Chhattisgarh Minister with a sex CD. A case had been registered against him under various sections at the Pandari police station in Raipur .
Mr. Verma was taken to the Indirapuram police station in Ghaziabad for completing the formalities. Mr. Verma, who is a member of Editors Guild of India, is currently a freelancer. Senior journalist Vinod Verma who was arrested on Friday morning on allegations of extortion has claimed that he is being framed.
“The government of Chhattisgarh is not happy with me. Clearly, I am being framed,” he said.
Responding to reports of him being in possession of a CD against a Chhattisgarh government minister, he said, “I have a sex CD of a Chhattisgarh Minister, he is Rajesh Munat & that is why Chhattisgarh government is not happy with me,”
While initial reports suggested that it was a joint operation by the police of both states, the Uttar Pradesh Police clarified it had “nothing to do with it”. Rahul Srivastava, PRO at the DGP office in Lucknow, that a case under sections 384 and 506 of the IPC had been lodged against Verma in Pandri police station of Raipur district. “He’s arrested by Chattisgarh police in a case of extortion registered at P.S.Pandri,distt Raipur.(Cr no 340/17,U/S 384 506 IPC),” the UP Police tweeted on Friday.
While initial reports suggested that it was a joint operation by the police of both states, the Uttar Pradesh Police clarified it had “nothing to do with it”. Rahul Srivastava, PRO at the DGP office in Lucknow, that a case under sections 384 and 506 of the IPC had been lodged against Verma in Pandri police station of Raipur district. “He’s arrested by Chattisgarh police in a case of extortion registered at P.S.Pandri,distt Raipur.(Cr no 340/17,U/S 384 506 IPC),” the UP Police tweeted on Friday.
The police have reportedly said that Verma was in possession of incriminating CDs of a Chhattisgarh minister. Action against Verma was taken after a complaint was filed by someone one close to the minister. The Chhattisgarh government has reportedly claimed that Verma was working with the Congress to defame the BJP.
In the past, Verma has been associated with Amar Ujala and the BBC. He is a member of the Editors Guild of India and was also reportedly part of a fact-finding team of the Editors Guild which is looking into the intimidation of journalists in Chhattisgarh.
A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said, “Verma was arrested for possession of a sex CD involving a minister in the BJP government in Chhattisgarh and was allegedly making extortion attempts.”
Sources in the Ghaziabad police said that a team of Chhattisgarh Police raided a shop in Delhi and confiscated as many as 1000 prints of the alleged sex video. Based on an interrogation of the shopkeeper, the police raided Mr. Verma’s house. “We have come to know that the Chhattisgarh police confiscated a large number of CDs from Verma’s residence as well. They also took his laptop and a pen drive,” the officer further said.
The arrest has sparked a furore, with political parties, including the Congress and the AAP, and a section of the media calling it a gag on journalism. (With Agency Report).
