Scribe arrested for ’objectionable’ tweet against Yogi

Mangalore Today News Network

Lucknow, June 8, 2019: A journalist has been booked for allegedly sharing an objectionable post against UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the social media, the police said.

An FIR was registered against Prashant Kanojia by a Sub-Inspector at the Hazratganj police station last night in which it was alleged that the accused made “objectionable comments against the CM and tried to malign his image”.

When contacted, a senior police official initially said the journalist has been arrested. But later he said no arrest has taken place yet.

The official said the police were trying to question the scribe. Kanojia had shared a video on Twitter and Facebook where a woman is seen speaking to reporters of various media organisations outside the CM office claiming that she had sent a marriage proposal to the CM.

The verified Twitter handle of Kanojia @PJkanojia said he is alumnus of the IIMC and Mumbai University and is associated with some media organisations.

Massive outrage on social media
But the arrest of Prashant Kanojia has triggered massive outrage on social media, with several users employing #ReleasePrashantKanojia in their tweets demanding that the Delhi scribe be freed immediately.

Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan tweeted saying that the arrest of a journalist over a sarcastic tweet was “an absurd and gross abuse of police.”