Imran Khan, the editor of the local newspaper Aap Abhi Tak, was arrested on November 2 for allegedly publishing a defamatory story against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Atul Garg. This arrest follows a complaint Garg lodged on October 6 against Congress leader Dolly Sharma, accusing her of defaming him during her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.
Garg claimed that Sharma labelled him a member of the “land mafia,” damaging his reputation. He alleged that Sharma had encroached on 31,000 square meters of government land to build a housing society, a claim she reportedly backed with documents. This information was circulated in local newspapers and online portals, contributing to the controversy.
In response to Khan’s arrest, a group of local journalists submitted a memorandum to District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh, alleging that the police acted under pressure. They addressed the memorandum to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, calling for a review of the police’s actions and expressing concern over freedom of the press in the region.
