New Delhi, 22 March, 2023: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) expresses serious concern at the arrest of Haryana’s Fatehabad-based journalist Jaspal Singh. He was arrested on charges of spreading false news to ‘defame’ a local BJP MLA Lakshman Napa, as well as violating the SC-ST Act and IT Act. The arrest came after the MLA’s son filed a complaint against Singh, accusing him of intentionally spreading false information about his father.

According to reports, Sumit Kumar, son of Ratia BJP MLA had lodged a police complaint against Singh accusing him of posting news in various WhatsApp groups and Facebook regarding his father’s name appearing in a gambling case lodged on March 16. Thereafter an FIR was filed against Singh.

Singh was produced before a court in Ratia on Sunday and was sent to judicial custody. Many journalists from Haryana met Fatehabad Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Sharma on Saturday and submitted a memorandum saying Singh was picked from his home and called it an attack on journalism and an attempt to subdue independent voices. They termed the allegations as false,  criticised the police for imposing charges under the SC-ST and IT acts and sought the withdrawal of the FIR.

IJU President and former member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General of IJU and Vice President of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Sabina Inderjit said in a statement that using legal routes to harass and silence journalists has become a trend in BJP-ruled states.

The IJU observed that in several cases the SC-ST act has been used indiscriminately against people. Notably, the Supreme Court has also opined that a complaint cannot be registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act just because the complainant is a member of the SC/ST community. The offence in question must be directed towards the caste of the individual. The IJU demands immediate withdrawal of the FIR against Jaspal Singh.