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Senior journalist Vinod Verma arrested, scribes come out in his support

His arrest is being criticised bitterly on social media. AAP leader and former journalist Ashutosh termed the arrest an “attack on the press”

Photo courtesy: Twitter
Photo courtesy: Twitter File photo of senior journalist Vinod Verma

Senior journalist Vinod Verma was arrested early this morning from his residence here by the Chhattisgarh Police over charges of extortion, police said.

Verma, who earlier worked with BBC Hindi service, was picked at 3.30 am from Mahagun Mansion Apartments, Vaibhav Khand, Indirapuram by a team of Chhattisgarh Police with the help of Ghaziabad Police, Senior Superintendent of Police HN Singh said.

A case of blackmail and extortion has been registered against the scribe at Pandri police station in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, he said.

“A huge quantity of CDs has been seized from the journalist's house. We are scrutinising the material to check whether there is any link to sex scandal involving higher- ups,” Singh said.

Vinod Verma tweeted against his arrest saying that political power cannot be saved by suppressing journalists and journalism

Published: 27 Oct 2017, 1:35 PM IST

Vinod Verma alleged that he is being targeted because he has sex tapes of Chhattisgarh minister.

As the news of the arrest of the former BBC and Amar Ujala journalist spread, many senior journalists from electronic and print media gathered outside the police station here. Social media has also been flooded with the posts criticising the arrest as an attack on the freedom of press.

The Congress tweeted condemning the arrest.

Published: 27 Oct 2017, 1:35 PM IST

AAP leader and former journalist Ashutosh termed the development an “attack on the press”.

Published: 27 Oct 2017, 1:35 PM IST

In a tweet to the Uttar Pradesh Police, the journalist-turned-politician said Verma was arrested in a “mysterious” way and the move amounted to attack on press freedom.

Quoting the news, senior journalist and author Urmilesh said in a tweet that it is like emergency days are here again.

Published: 27 Oct 2017, 1:35 PM IST

Politician and academician Yogendra Yadav too criticised the arrest.

Published: 27 Oct 2017, 1:35 PM IST

The Chhattisgarh Police will produce the scribe in a court here later in the day, the SSP said.

With PTI inputs

Published: 27 Oct 2017, 1:35 PM IST

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Published: 27 Oct 2017, 1:35 PM IST