Former DM, police among 26 booked for illegal demolition of journalist’s house in Uttar Pradesh
Maharajganj: Nearly two months after the Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to hold officials accountable for the illegal demolition of journalist Manoj Tibrewal Akash’s ancestral house, the police have registered a criminal case against 26 individuals. Those named in the FIR include the then District Magistrate (DM) Amar Nath Upadhyay, several police officers, administrative officials, engineers, and contractors.
The FIR, filed on December 30, 2024, charges the accused with 16 offences, including criminal conspiracy, disobedience of law, forging documents, and wrongful confinement. The demolition, carried out on September 13, 2019, was reportedly linked to a road widening project. Tibrewal alleges the action was part of a "vindictive conspiracy" following his father’s complaint about corruption in the construction of a nearby highway stretch.
In November 2024, a three-judge Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud condemned the act, describing it as “bulldozer justice,” and ordered the state to pay Tibrewal Rs 25 lakh in compensation. The apex court also instructed the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to ensure punitive measures against those responsible.
Tibrewal’s complaint claims that officials demolished the family’s two-storey house and shop without notice, acquisition process, or compensation. He described the incident as a “criminal act,” alleging officials forcibly vacated his family, misbehaved with his mother and pregnant sister-in-law, and left no time to retrieve valuables.
The property, purchased by Tibrewal’s grandfather in the 1960s, was reportedly marked for partial demolition during a meeting with district officials. However, the next day, the entire structure was demolished, allegedly without warning, under heavy police deployment.
The FIR names several officials, including ADM Maharajganj Kunj Bihari Agarwal, executive officer Rajesh Jaiswal, superintendent engineers Manikant Agarwal and Ashok Kanojia, and nine police officers, among others. The charges include rioting, criminal intimidation, causing injury, forgery, and endangering personal safety.
Amar Nath Upadhyay, who served as Maharajganj’s DM during the incident, has faced prior accusations of financial irregularities, including overreporting the number of cattle at a conservation centre. Following the demolition, he was suspended but later reinstated to other administrative roles.
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Cong leader Prithviraj Chavan defiant after facing verbal missiles on Op Sindoor remarks
Mumbai (PTI): Despite facing criticism, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday stood by his controversial comments that India faced a "total defeat" in aerial fight with Pakistan on the first day of Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The former Union minister refused to apologise for his comments on the Indian military operation against terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK in aftermath of massacre of tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in April.
Talking to reporters in Pune on Tuesday, Chavan claimed India faced a "total defeat in the aerial fight (with Pakistan) on May 7 which lasted for half-an-hour".
"One may believe this or not. After that the Indian Air Force got grounded and not a single aircraft took flight that day.... be it Gwalior, Bhatinda or Sirsa, there was a possibility of aircraft being shot down, so our complete Air Force was grounded," the former Maharashtra chief minister had said.
Hitting out at Chavan, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused the Congress of speaking the language of Pakistan. He said questioning the military action was akin to demoralising the morale of armed forces.
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"The criticism does not stem from the love of the nation, but love for Pakistan," said the chief leader of the Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the BJP-led NDA.
Chavan, however, remained defiant.
"There is no question of apologising. The Constitution has given me the right to ask questions," the Congress veteran asserted.
Chavan also questioned the need of having a 12-lakh strong Army when future wars will be about aerial combats and missiles. "During Operation Sindoor we saw that there was no movement of the Army even for a kilometre," he had said.
BJP Lok Sabha MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said Chavan's remarks are loaded with sedition.
"He (Chavan) has refused to apologise. The Indian armed forces struck 100 kms inside the Pakistan territory and destroyed 11 air strips (of the Pakistani Air Force). He made remarks that the Indian Army did not even move an inch (during the military operation). This is nothing but a statement full of sedition, a statement of a traitor," Patra said, lashing out at the Congress leader.
The BJP spokesperson maintained the Congress appears to be standing with Chavan and alleged the Opposition party is playing into foreign hands.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should apologise for it, he added.
Union minister Giriraj Singh of the BJP insisted it was not right to devalue the valour of Indian armed forces.
Samajwadi Party MP Virendra Singh suggested that wherever armed forces are concerned, every Indian should be mindful of statements they make and ensure their comments do not demoralise the military.
Operation Sindoor was a result of "mistakes of politicians", he claimed.
TDP MP Krishna Devraylu said after the poll defeat in Bihar, the Congress is rattled and their leaders have been talking absurdly.
"Chavan's remarks are a prime example of this. This kind of disrespect to our armed forces is not necessary. If the Congress is angry with the NDA, it should show it in a different way and not drag armed forces into it," Devraylu opined.
AAP MP Ashok Mittal said such statements should not be made by any senior politician, especially by someone who has been a former chief minister.
The Indian armed forces registered a strong victory and destroyed terror launchpads in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Mittal added.
