FIR against journalist, Chhattisgarh Congress chief over sex CD case
An FIR has been lodged against journalist Vinod Verma and Chhattisgarh Congress President Bhupesh Baghel for allegedly blackmailing a BJP minister over a 'fake sex CD'. The former BBC journalist, arrested yesterday, was booked under Section 67(A) of the IT Act. He has been denied bail. Chhattisgarh BJP spokesperson Shivratan Sharma claimed Baghel was part of the 'conspiracy'. Verma said he was being framed.
Former BBC journalist Vinod Verma arrested in extortion case
On 27th Oct, Senior journalist Vinod Verma was arrested from his Ghaziabad residence in an extortion case. The action came after Chhattisgarh BJP leader Prakash Bajaj lodged a complaint against a caller who was allegedly threatening to leak sex tapes if he didn't pay up. Incidentally, Verma, ex-BBC and Amar Ujala journalist, was in a fact-finding committee analyzing the arrest of journalists in Chhattisgarh.
The arrest was made at 3:30 in the night
In his complaint, Bajaj told police a caller had claimed he had objectionable videos. Investigation led police to a video operator in Delhi, who said Verma had asked him to make 1,000 copies of the concerned CD. Police say they confiscated 500 CDs, pen drives, a diary and a laptop from his Ghaziabad house. Verma was charged with extortion, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.
AAP's Ashutosh alleges attack on press freedom
Verma's alleged links to the Congress
The Indian Express quotes sources saying Verma was working as a consultant to state Congress chief Bhupesh Vaghel. However, Verma has denied the allegation. He was reportedly questioned for hours at the Indirapuram Police Station.
