His arrest comes in response to alleged incendiary social media posts that accused a foreign media house of influencing law enforcement decisions.
In a dramatic turn of events, Mukesh Kumar, the resident editor of Sudarshan News, a prominent media outlet, has been apprehended by the Cyber Crime Unit of East Police Station. The arrest stems from his purportedly incendiary social media posts concerning the recent outbreak of communal violence in Nuh and neighboring districts of Haryana. The unrest, which erupted on July 31 after an altercation involving a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession, has claimed six lives.
In a surprising twist, Sudarshan News initially decried the arrest as an assault on media independence, hinting at a possible abduction by unidentified individuals. Kumar's detainment came on the heels of his allegations on a well-known social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), wherein he asserted that a foreign media entity was pressuring the Gurugram Police Commissioner to take actions against the Hindu community in connection with the communal clashes, as repoted by PTI.
Gurugram Police swiftly debunked Kumar's claims, labeling them as baseless, fabricated, and misleading. An FIR was promptly registered against him under pertinent sections of the IT Act and other relevant legal provisions. His post, dated August 8, insinuated that the Al Jazeera News Channel had influenced the Police Commissioner's decisions, leading to the apprehension of Hindu activists.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime), Varun Dahiya, confirmed Kumar's arrest, revealing that he was subsequently taken for a medical examination. This development follows Sudarshan News' initial assertion that Kumar had been forcibly taken from his car by muscular assailants in Gurugram's Sector 17 while en route to assist beleaguered Hindu activists in Mewat.
In a subsequent statement, Sudarshan News criticized the Gurugram Police for allegedly delaying the announcement of Kumar's arrest, suggesting a lack of transparency. The channel staunchly stood by Kumar, condemning the arrest as unjust and emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding media freedom. The hashtag #ReleaseMukeshKumar gained traction as the outlet rallied support for its beleaguered editor.