Another day, another primetime show, and the question on everyone’s lips is – where is Aman Chopra?
It’s been a tough 10 days for the News18 India anchor.
First, he hosted a show on April 22 where he insinuated that a temple had been razed in Rajasthan as some sort of revenge for the demolition drive in Jahangirpuri. It involved slokas, an on-screen dharna, and a “secular” bulldozer – you need to read about it to believe it.
Days later, two FIRs were filed against him in Rajasthan for insulting religious beliefs, promoting enmity, and various other sections.
Then, on May 1, a team from the Rajasthan police showed up at Chopra’s office in Noida, but he wasn’t there. Chopra also skipped anchoring his primetime show on May 2 and 3 – Reema Prasad took over on May 2 and Preeti Raghunandan on May 3.
Dileep Dan, the station house officer at Rajasthan’s Dungarpur Kotwali, told Newslaundry he had been part of the team of five or six people who went to Chopra’s office.
“We reached Chopra’s office in Noida to arrest him but we didn’t find him there,” said Dan. “We left a notice at his office under section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and he has been asked to respond by May 5.”
Section 91 is related to summons to produce a document or other item. “We have asked for some documents for investigation...We asked for a copy of that episode, who wrote the script, the producer, along with the information about their names and addresses,” Dan explained.
What happens if Chopra doesn’t respond by May 5?
“Then action will be taken against him under section 93 of CrpC,” said Dan, referring to the section by which a search warrant can be issued.
Jay Yadav, the district superintendent of police of Rajasthan’s Bundi, where the second FIR is registered, told Newslaundry the investigation is “ongoing” at Sadar Bundi police station.
“Sections of the IT Act have also been imposed and we have asked Twitter to respond,” said Yadav. “Action will be taken after the investigation is completed.”
Meanwhile, a News18 India employee confirmed to Newslaundry that they had received the police’s notice.
“But nothing else has happened,” said the employee, on condition of anonymity. “Nothing can be said about why Chopra isn’t doing his show. But he is nowhere to be seen in the office. The Rajasthan police’s team had arrived at the office.”
News18 India managing editor Kishor Ajwani did not respond to our requests for comment.
A version of this story was first published on Newslaundry Hindi.
Update
On Saturday, News18 Rajasthan's Twitter handle put a post which said that the Rajasthan High Court heard the matter pertaining to the FIR filed against Aman Chopra. The tweet went on to say that the court has ordered that "no coercive action must be taken against Chopra".
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