Jaipur Police Journalist Arrest story unfolds as authorities in Rajasthan detain two Madhya Pradesh-based reporters-

Jaipur, Oct.18.18,2025:The Jaipur Police Journalist Arrest centres on the detention of two men — Anand Pandey and Harish Divekar — from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. According to police statements, they worked for the web-portal “The Sootr” (also referred to as “The Sutra”) and ran a series of news items against Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan. The portal allegedly demanded ₹5 crore to remove the content and commit to non-publication of future items-

The complaint reportedly states-

• A dozen or so news items were published in the previous month targeting the Deputy CM, allegedly false and defamatory.
• The accused contacted individuals associated with the Deputy CM, demanding large sums to “take down” the stories and promise not to run further ones.
• If demand was not met, they threatened a campaign dubbed “Destroy Diya”.
• Technical and witness evidence obtained by Jaipur Police purportedly shows the reports lacked factual basis. In short: The Jaipur Police Journalist Arrest marks a major law-enforcement action linking media practices, alleged fake reports and extortion demands.

Who are the accused and what’s the background

Anand Pandey & Harish Divekar

According to the articles-

• Anand Pandey is identified as Editor-in-Chief of the portal.
• Harish Divekar is reported as Managing Editor of the same news website.
• Portal & operations

• The portal “The Sootr” (or “The Sutra”) reportedly ran items labelled under titles such as “Diya tale andhera (darkness under the lamp)” — a play on the Deputy CM’s name.
• The complaint suggests the web-portal had been systematically publishing false items and then threatening further publication unless payment was made.
• One official statement said: “ Investigation revealed the news broadcast was not based on facts… the accused had made an illegal demand of Rs 5 crore…” From the accused side, the portal’s spokesperson claimed their reporting was backed by documentation and facts, and described the arrest as “shocking and unlawful” and an attempt to intimidate independent journalism.

Geographic & jurisdictional detail

• The accused were detained in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and will be brought to Jaipur for further investigation.
• The complaint was lodged at Karni Vihar police station in Jaipur.

FIR, charges and evidence

What FIR/charges

• The FIR reportedly invokes sections related to defamation (BNS 356), extortion (308), making/publishing false statement or report via electronic means (353) as well as sections under the Information Technology Act.
• Key investigative steps by Jaipur Police: Recording witness statements, obtaining technical data on web-content, verifying that the news items lacked basis.

Evidence & process

• Technical data: The police say they obtained digital footprints (web-portal logs/metadata) to establish the items were not factual.
• Witness / victim statements: Inputs from the complainant and others who purportedly were approached for payment.
• Arrest/detention: The accused have been detained and will be brought to Jaipur for further questioning with other associated individuals.

Jurisdictional nuance

Since the accused were in Bhopal and the portal is based in Madhya Pradesh, but the complaint and targeted individual are in Rajasthan, the case spans two states. Inter-state procedures and coordination between state police forces are triggered.

Political & media ramifications

Political dimension

• The target of the campaign and alleged extortion was Deputy CM Diya Kumari of Rajasthan. The use of her name, reputation and political office escalates the matter beyond a typical media dispute.
• The very phrase “Destroy Diya” underscores the combative and political tone alleged in the campaign.
• For Rajasthan’s government, the incident raises questions of how to manage media criticism, differentiate between legitimate journalism and defamation/extortion, and maintain the rule of law.

Media ethic & press freedom

• The accused portal claimed they were simply exercising independent journalism and alleged the police action was “an attempt to silence independent journalism”.
• On the flip side, authorities allege extortion and false reporting — which if true, undermine media credibility and ethics.
• The Jaipur Police Journalist Arrest thus sits at the fragile intersection of press freedom and media accountability.

Public perception & digital platforms

• In the digital age, web-portals and social media wield great power; allegations of using that power for extortion or defamation trigger public trust issues.
• The case may prompt stronger scrutiny of news portals with ambiguous governance structures.
• Platforms may face pressure for greater transparency, fact-checking and internal accountability.

Press freedom, fake news, extortion

Press freedom vs. misuse of media

The key tension is: when does critical journalism cross into defamation/extortion? The Jaipur Police Journalist Arrest forces stakeholders to ask:

• Are the charges genuinely about extortion and fake news, or partly about suppressing dissent?
• How can independent journalism be protected while curbing media misuse?

Fake news & digital misinformation

• The police contend the reports “were not based on facts”.
• In an era of viral content, false claims targeting public officials can damage reputations and public trust.
• Cases like this may catalyse stricter regulatory responses for digital media.

Extortion via media arms

• The core of the complaint is that the portal demanded money (₹5 crore) in exchange for non‐publication or deletion of content.
• If proven, this represents a hybrid crime: media façade plus extortion racket.
• Law‐enforcement and the judiciary may need to evolve frameworks for such hybridised violations.

Investigations, court process and stakeholders

Investigation trajectory

• Further investigation will examine other associates involved, examine technical logs in detail, and establish if more victims exist.
• The accused will be brought from Bhopal to Jaipur and likely face judicial custody or hearings in Rajasthan jurisdiction.

Legal proceedings

• Charges under defamation, extortion and IT law may proceed.
• Media organisations and journalist associations may intervene, especially if they view the arrests as precedent‐setting for press freedom.

Stakeholders

• Media houses will closely watch: the case may affect how web portals operate, editorial governance, and risk exposure.
• Politicians & public offices may demand stricter oversight of digital media.
• Legal experts will assess the interplay between media rights, defamation law, extortion statutes and IT regulation.

Key take-aways and lessons

• The Jaipur Police Journalist Arrest illustrates that media actions can now trigger criminal investigations when they intersect with extremities like extortion and fake news.
• For journalists and media portals: governance, documentation, and fact‐checking are no longer optional — lacking them exposes risk of legal liability.
• For law-makers and regulators: hybrid violations (media + extortion + digital) may call for updated regulatory frameworks.
• For citizens and readers: heightened alertness is needed to distinguish between genuine journalism and manipulated content with hidden agendas.
• Finally, the case underscores a broader truth: power dynamics between media, political office and law-enforcement are evolving — and accountability is increasingly in spotlight.

In sum, the Jaipur Police Journalist Arrest opens a multi-layered narrative about journalism, politics, digital media, law-enforcement and public accountability. As the investigation proceeds, it may serve as a landmark case in India’s evolving media and governance ecosystem.