News Channel Editor Arrested For Inciting Communal Tensions

Lucknow: The Editor-in-Chief and Chief Managing Director of Sudarshan news channel was arrested on Wednesday for promoting enmity between different groups on April 10 in Sambhal. The accused Suresh Chavhanke was arrested with the help of local police from the Chowdhury Charan Singh Airport, when he was about to leave the city.

An FIR was lodged against Chavhanke under various sections of the IPC including those dealing with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth and over content to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public and other sections.

The FIR was registered by the SHO when the matter was raised during a meeting of the Peace Committee in Sambhal in which prominent citizens pointed out the programme telecast between April 6 to April 8.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had said, "We cannot allow anyone to disturb peace and communal harmony."

"Media's independence is one thing but it cannot be so free that it spreads communal disharmony in various parts of the country. We have taken note of it and will take action," Naqvi had said.