Third journalist of Noida-based TV channel held for "defamatory content" against Adityanath
Noida (UP): Another journalist at a Noida-based TV channel has been arrested allegedly over defamatory content against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, said officials.
Nation Live editor Anshul Kaushik was arrested Monday night and remanded in 14-day judicial custody Tuesday on the same charges as the channel head Ishika Singh and editor Anuj Shukla.
During a debate on the channel on June 6, a woman had allegedly made defamatory statements against Adityanath.
"Editor Anshul Kaushik of Nation Live was arrested last night and produced in the district and sessions court in Surajpur, Gautam Buddh Nagar. The court has remanded him in 14-day judicial custody," a police officer privy to the probe told PTI requesting anonymity.
"One more editor of the channel is absconding and police are on the lookout for him as well," the officer said.
This is the third arrest in the case in which the district administration and the police themselves had taken cognizance to lodge two FIRs and also reported the matter to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting after it emerged during the probe that the Noida-based news channel did not have the requisite licence to operate.
Ishika Singh and Anshul Shukla were arrested on June 8 and remanded in a 14-day judicial custody, two days after the channel allegedly aired the controversial content defaming Adityanath without verifying its authenticity , the officials said.
Two persons were arrested Monday in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur district for allegedly posting objectionable comments on social media against the chief minister.
On Tuesday, observing that the right to liberty is "sacrosanct and non-negotiable", the Supreme Court had ordered that journalist Prashant Kanojia, arrested for allegedly sharing objectionable posts on Adityanath, be immediately released on bail.
Anshul Kaushik was arrested under Sections 153 (promoting enmity between different groups), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 505 (1) (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report) and 505 [2] (statements conducing to public mischief), the officials said.
An additional complaint over the illegal operation of the channel was made by the district additional director, information, at the Phase 3 police station following which an FIR under Sections 420 (fraud), 467 (forgery of documents) and related offences was registered, police said.
Police had on Sunday sealed the premises of the channel in Block B of Sector 65 amid protests by social activists and the Editors Guild of India, which described the episode an attempt to "intimidate" the press and "stifle the freedom of expression".
Responding to the criticism over the arrest of the journalists, District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh had told reporters on Monday that there were no directions from the state government for action and the administration had taken a note of it on its own.
"There is a report in a section of media that it is a case of defamation, but it is not only about defamation. It is about nuisance which has a larger impact on the public order, peace and tranquillity, the DM said.
I request the media for a deeper and not superficial analysis of the episode and see that if the district administration is trying to prevent such incidents, it is based on merit and is correct," Singh said.
"It was a fake and unauthorised channel, so there is sufficient ground for action," the DM said.
SSP Vaibhav Krishna during the same press conference had said, "The incident could have created a law and order situation, a riot-like situation, hence, filing FIRs and arresting the duo were needed and during the probe it also emerged that they did not have the requisite licence for operating a TV news channel."
"We are not trying to regulate anything. Let it be very clear," the district police chief had said.
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Noida airport to begin ops next month with IndiGo flights to Lucknow, Bengaluru
Noida (PTI): IndiGo on Thursday announced that it will start commercial flight operations from the Noida International Airport in Jewar from June 15, becoming the launch carrier for the greenfield airport in western Uttar Pradesh.
The first day flights will be to and fro Lucknow and Bengaluru, the airline said in a statement.
Noida International Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28.
IndiGo said it will be the first carrier to start commercial services from the airport, the third in the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to the airline, inaugural flights on June 15 will operate on the Lucknow-Noida-Bengaluru-Noida-Lucknow sector.
As per the announced schedule, flight 6E 2278 will depart from Lucknow at 7.05 am and arrive in Noida at 8.05 am before departing for Bengaluru at 8.35 am and landing there at 11.05 am.
The return flight, 6E 2279, will leave Bengaluru at 3.45 pm and reach Noida at 6.20 pm before departing for Lucknow at 6.55 pm and arriving there at 8 pm.
IndiGo said it will gradually introduce direct flights connecting Noida International Airport to more than 16 destinations across the country, including metro cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, besides tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Jaipur, Lucknow, Navi Mumbai, Pantnagar and Srinagar.
The airline said bookings for the flights are being opened in phases through its website, mobile application and authorised travel partners.
Aloke Singh, Chief Strategy Officer of IndiGo, said the airline was pleased to announce the launch of operations from Noida International Airport.
"Strategically positioned on the Yamuna Expressway, Noida International Airport will be the new gateway for western Uttar Pradesh alongside the NCR. As we continue to expand our operations, we remain committed to delivering affordable, on-time and hassle-free travel experiences," Singh said.
IndiGo said the airport is expected to emerge as a major domestic aviation hub and will strengthen connectivity between Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh through integrated road and rail infrastructure.
