Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow (SP)

Lucknow, Jun 9: On Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh government arrested three persons for publishing objectionable content about chief minister, Yogi Adityanath. Journalist, Prashanth Kanojia, was taken into custody from his home in Delhi, and taken to Lucknow where he was formally arrested. Head of a private news channel, 'Nation Live', and its editor were arrested from Noida the same evening.

The journalist has been accused of sharing objectionable content featuring the chief minister through social media. Two people connected with a private news channel were arrested for beaming content which is considered as defamatory. Kanojia was accused of trying to malign the chief minister as per a complaint filed by a Lucknow-based police officer. Kanojia had shared a video clip of a woman, speaking to media representatives opposite the residence of the chief minister, claiming to have sent marriage proposal to Yogi Adityanath. He has been accused of criminal defamation and public mischief.

Prashanth Kanojia

The arrests have been condemned by many through social media. Founding editor of 'The Wire', Siddarth Varadaraj, tweeted that the arrest is an abuse of law.

In the case of the above news channel, during a debate on the channel on June 6, the lady whose video had been shared by Kanojia allegedly passed derogatory and defamatory remarks about the chief minister. Head of the channel, Ishika Singh, and editor, Anuj Shukla, were arrested on the basis of complaint made by workers of a political party.

Police said that these things could have vitiated law and order situation in the state. It is gathered that the channel in question does not possess a licence. This led to registration of one more complaint against it.