Page Loader
Delhi police arrests four men for harassing journalist Barkha Dutt

Delhi police arrests four men for harassing journalist Barkha Dutt

Mar 20, 2019
12:54 pm

What's the story

The Delhi Police arrested four people, three from Delhi and one from Surat, for harassing journalist Barkha Dutt online and threatening her. Dutt confirmed the development on Twitter on Wednesday morning. Dutt became a victim of online harassment after her number was circulated on social media. On February 21, she lodged an FIR and Delhi police acted accordingly. Here's what happened.

Case

Dutt received abusive, sexually explicit messages; filed FIR

In her FIR, Dutt mentioned that she became a victim of fake news and propaganda. "I have been sent nude pictures and sexually abusive text messages. I fear for my well-being, security and life as this is a coordinated assault by a violent mob," her FIR read. Dutt also alleged that one of the texts read "goli marr denge" (Will shoot you).

Twitter Post

Dutt revealed her ordeal on Twitter

Details

Case was registered under relevant sections of IPC

The Delhi police filed an FIR under IPC Sections 354-D (stalking), 506 (threatening), 507 (criminal intimidation) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and Sections 67 and 67-A (publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act) of the IT Act. Notably, the National Commission for Women also lent support to Dutt and asked Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to initiate a speedy investigation into the matter.

Accused

Three men were given bail, Surat-resident got judicial custody

The arrested men have been identified as 23-year-old Rajiv Sharma, 31-year-old Hemraj Kumar, 34-year-old Aditya Kumar, and 45-year-old Shabbir Gurfan Pinjari, a resident of Surat. A senior police officer told IE they used technical surveillance to nab the accused. While the perpetrators from Delhi were granted bail, Pinjari was remanded to 14-days judicial custody as he sent an obscene picture to Dutt.

Jobs

One of the accused is an undergrad student

According to reports, Sharma is an undergrad student who is pursuing a correspondence course from a private university. While Hemraj works as a chef at a private hotel, Aditya is a sales executive at a firm. Pinjari is employed at a butcher shop. The men confessed they got Dutt's number from social media. Police are now trying to find out who released her number.

Twitter Post

Dutt is happy with action but wants more