A Court in Srinagar on Tuesday issued a non-bailable warrant against the Managing Editor of a Jammu-based newspaper accused of publishing a false story about a JKSSB paper leak.
The Sub-judge, Small Causes Court, Srinagar, acted on a complaint filed by Riyaz Ahmad Malik (JKAS), Controller of Examination JKSSB, against Mohit Mehra, Managing Director of Daily Jammu Jottings newspaper.
The warrant was issued in response to FIR number 53/2023 under sections 501, 502, and 153 IPC at Police Station Saddar. The Court has directed the police to arrest Mohit Mehra by or before August 22, 2023.
According to the complaint lodged by SSRB Srinagar, the Daily Jammu Jottings newspaper published a news item on June 13, 2023, under the headline ‘Seven arrested in connection with selling of paper in Pulwama’, claiming that question papers of J&K Services Selection Board were sold. However, the JKSSB did not conduct any examination on June 11, 2023, making the news item false and baseless.
An official stated, “The news item published is therefore false, fabricated, and malicious, aimed at tarnishing the image of the Board. The newspaper’s actions amount to criminal intimidation and defamation, potentially causing doubts in the minds of future exam aspirants, and undermining the credibility of the institution.”
The official further highlighted that the news item lacked investigation or research and had the potential to cause fear or alarm among the public, leading to potential offences against the state or public tranquility. Despite issuing a notice to the editor in chief of the newspaper, no justification for the false reporting was provided.
As a result of the contents of this news item, a protest was reportedly held in front of the University of Jammu. Consequently, a Case FIR was registered, and investigation proceedings were initiated. Several Notices U/S 41 A of CrPC were issued to Mohit Mehra on 8th, 18th, and 21st July 2023, requiring his presence at the Police Station to ascertain facts and circumstances in the case. However, he failed to attend the Police Station until the mentioned date.(KNO)
