In a recent turn of events, a Sudarshan News editor found himself in the eye of a social media storm, leading to a series of legal actions and contrasting outcomes. The editor, Mukesh Kumar, was apprehended on charges of posting potentially inflammatory content on various social media platforms, sparking discussions about the impact of online expression.
Mukesh Kumar, the resident editor of the television channel, was taken into custody on Friday due to his alleged involvement in sharing content related to communal unrest in Nuh and neighboring districts of Haryana. However, Kumar's time behind bars was brief as he was granted bail after being presented before a duty magistrate court on Friday evening, according to ACP (Crime) Varun Dahiya, according to media reports.
In an intriguing twist, Ritu Raj Aggarwal, a member associated with a Hindu organization, was also ensnared in the legal web for sharing Kumar's tweet across multiple social media channels. Aggarwal's fate took a different path, as he was produced before a duty magistrate court on Saturday and subsequently sent to judicial custody, as per the ACP.
The original post that ignited this controversy appeared on the now-renamed platform X (previously known as Twitter). Kumar's message claimed that a foreign media entity had been exerting pressure on the Gurugram Police Commissioner to target Hindus amidst the communal disturbances. His words stirred conversations, alleging that the local authorities were influenced to take action against certain groups. However, the Gurugram Police swiftly responded by terming Kumar's assertions as baseless, false, and misleading.
Law enforcement took concrete steps by registering an FIR against Kumar under pertinent sections of the IT Act and other relevant laws at the Cyber Crime, East Police Station. Sudarshan News, the media outlet Kumar is affiliated with, characterized his arrest as an assault on journalistic freedom, initially contending that he had been "abducted" by unidentified individuals.
