Srinagar Court Issues Non-bailable Arrest Warrant Against MD of Jammu-based Newspaper for Filing ‘Fake News’ Against JKSSB

*Srinagar Court Issues Non-bailable Arrest Warrant Against MD of Jammu-based Newspaper for Filing ‘Fake News’ Against JKSSB*

Asif Iqbal

Srinagar, Aug 1 (GNS): A Court in Srinagar Tuesday issued a non-bailable warrant against the Managing Editor of a Jammu-based newspaper accused of filing a fake story on JKSSB paper leak.

Office of the Sub-judge, Small Causes Court, Srinagar in the case of Riyaz Ahmad Malik (JKAS), Controller of Examination JKSSB Versus Mohit Mehra MD Daily Jammu jottings issued a non-bailable warrant against Mohit Mehra, Managing Director Daily Jammu Jottings, newspaper, vide FIR number 53/2023 under section 501, 502, 153 IPC of Police Station Saddar. By virtue of the warrant, the Court, as per GNS, has asked Police to arrest the accused by or before 22-08-2023.

Notably, in a written complaint lodged by SSRB Srinagar to the effect that a local Daily Newspaper, Daily Jammu Jottings, Plot No. 77, Lower Roop Nagar, Sharika Vihar, behind JDA Flats, Jammu, in its edition dated 13 June, 2023 published a news item under the headline 'seven arrested connection of selling of paper in Pulwama'.

In this news item, the said newspaper, as learnt by GNS, has cited reference to the selling of question papers of J&K Services Selection Board, which is totally false and baseless, as the JKSSB did not conduct any examination on 11th June, 2023.

"The news item published is therefore false, fabricated and malicious, and aimed to tarnish the image of the Board. The act/omission on part of the daily newspaper has a sense of conspiracy against the Board which has caused criminal intimidation and criminal defamation, It may be appreciated that the said act on part of the newspaper has the potential of causing doubts in the minds of aspirants who have to appear in future exams conducted by the JKSSB and therefore, intends to cause den in the credibility of this institution", said an official in the knowhow of things.

"It is pertinent to mention that the news item carried by the said newspaper is without any iota of investigation/research and same has tendency to cause fear or alarm to the public, whereby, any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquility. It is further informed that a notice was also issued to the editor in chief of the newspaper which has been replied by the concerned but no justification for the false and fabricating reporting was furnished", the official said.

"Based on the contents of this news item, a protest was held in front of the University of Jammu (As reported in paper cutting and pen-drive) against the JKSSB. Accordingly, it is requested to direct the concerned to take appropriate action against the said newspaper in order to set the criminal investigation in motion as provided under law."

"Upon this a Case FIR was registered and investigation was set into motion. Further during the course of investigation, many Notices U/S 41 A of CrPC were issued against the alleged person for his presence in Police Station on, 08th, 18th and, 21th of July-2023 to ascertain facts and circumstances in the case, but he failed to attend the Police Station till date", the official added. (GNS)