S Gopal Puri
The Newz Radar Executive Editor Sunil Chadha, who faced an FIR for his report on the Congress’ defeat in the recent Haryana Assembly elections, and Baddi SP Ilma Afroz, who joined on Monday after 42 days following an alleged forced leave, featured on the posters and placards carried by BJP workers during their ‘Jan Aakrosh Rally’ in Dharamshala on Wednesday (December 18, 2024).
The rally was staged by the opposition BJP as a counter to the Himachal Pradesh Congress government’s mega event in Bilaspur on December 11 to mark two years in power.
The placards carried by BJP workers showed the pictures of Sunil Chadha and Ilma Afroz placed alongside, with the slug ‘Kis baat ka jashn’… journalist Sunil Chadha ke khilaf FIR kyun hui… Ilma Afroz ko lambi chutti kyun jana pada’ (what’s the celebration all about… why was the FIR lodged against journalist Sunil Chadha… why was Baddi SP Ilma Afroz forced to proceed on long leave).
A large number of BJP workers had gathered at the Zorawar Ground in Dharamshala for the rally on the opening day of the four-day Vidhan Sabha session and they even scuffled with the police personnel while trying to march towards the Vidhan Sabha.
Forgery section was included in FIR against Sunil Chadha
The FIR (No. 132/2024) against Sunil Chadha was registered on October 8, 2024, at the Sadar police station in Shimla under Sections 336(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Section 336(4) deals with forgery and Section 61(2) with criminal conspiracy.
The complainant is Sandeep Aukta (50), shown to be a resident of Hemant Niwas at Kasumpti in Shimla. In the FIR, Aukta alleged that on October 8 while walking on Shimla’s Mall Road, he came across an article on The Newz Radar’s website via his mobile phone. He alleged that the article was “false, baseless and fabricated, and published with an intention to malign the reputation of Congress leaders”.
The Press Club of India, the Chandigarh Press Club, the Indian Union of Journalists and the Himachal Pradesh Union of Journalists, among other journalistic bodies, had rallied behind The Newz Radar and Sunil Chadha, calling upon the Himachal Pradesh government to withdraw the FIR.
Sunil Chadha known for integrity, impeccable track record
The article was penned by Sunil Chadha, a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience. Renowned for his integrity and an impeccable track record, Sunil Chadha has uncovered several high-profile scandals, including the recent Himachal Pradesh Police recruitment scam, KCC Bank loan fraud and a land scam involving a former minister.
The article, titled “Did Congress lose Haryana due to Sukhu govt’s ‘financial mismanagement’ in Himachal?”, highlighted how the ruling BJP in neighbouring Haryana partly focused its campaign on the alleged financial crisis facing the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government.
The BJP cited issues like the unprecedented delay in the disbursement of salaries and pensions, controversial “toilet tax” and the rollback of power and water subsidies. The article also pointed to discussions on social media about the probable causes of the defeat.
The Newz Radar presented Congress’ side too
Adhering to journalistic standards, The Newz Radar article also included the Congress’ perspective. It quoted Chief Minister Sukhu as having said during the campaign that the “delay in the payments of salaries and pensions was a strategic financial decision, and that it did not reflect a deeper monetary crisis”.
The article also mentioned the argument by Congress leaders that the “BJP was politicising the issue to deflect attention from its own shortcomings after a decade-long rule in Haryana”.
Baddi SP went on leave after ‘tiff’ with Congress MLA
The long leave of Himachal Pradesh IPS officer Ilma Afroz, the SP of Baddi police district, had triggered a political storm in the state and become a national talking point. She rejoined her duty on Tuesday morning (December 17, 2024) and reported at the Police Headquarters in Shimla.
Ilma Afroz had reportedly gone on leave following a dispute with Doon Congress MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary in August. The controversy began when Ilma Afroz issued a challan against a vehicle registered in the name of the MLA’s wife for alleged illegal mining. Ram Kumar Chaudhary had then claimed that the vehicle, though registered in his wife’s name, had been contracted further.
The matter escalated into a major dispute and the MLA raised it during the Himachal Pradesh Assembly’s monsoon session, levelling serious allegations against the SP and initiating a breach of privilege motion.
During the same period, a high-profile firing incident took place in Baddi, which further complicated things. Scrap dealer Ram Kishan, who was denied an all-India gun licence due to his past record, allegedly orchestrated an attack on his own bulletproof vehicle.
Ilma Afroz’s investigation revealed that Ram Kishan had staged the incident, leading to his prosecution. Ram Kishan, reportedly close to a Congress leader, was seen as another source of pressure on the SP.