Exposing corrupt journalists of our time

Nava Thakuria

Corruption in journalism often makes news in Indian media. The creator of news also emerges as a matter of reporting in many parts of the country. The alienated Northeast too never ignored the trend. In fact, soon after the arrest of an Assamese scribe for his involvement in a bribery case with a seasoned politician, the issue comes to the center stage of Assam media.While it was appalling news for the people of Assam, as one of its active state ministers was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials few weeks back in New Delhi with the charges of offering bribe to an officer (to get rid of a murder case), more shocking news waited for the media persons. The investigation agency also picked up the scribe accusing himto get involved in the episode. The arrest of Mukul Pathak, who was associated with an Assamese daily along with the then Education minister Ripun Bora (third prey was a Delhi-based businessman, Ramesh Maheswari), made huge media headlines for many days in Assam. The immediate reaction of the people in general and media persons in particular was that Mukul got nothing but his dues. Meanwhile wild allegations were poured against the young scribe that he managed hundred thousand bucks with his unethical understanding and activities with the minister. Few journalists came out with more serious versions that Mukul destroyed the image of Assam media to the greatest extent. Those journalists even tried to create an atmosphere that after Mukul's arrest, everything became so crystal clear and the Assam media emerged as a place for holy cows only.So there were hot debates and discussions about the punishments that could be pronounced to Mukul, who was then serving the term for judicial custody at Tihar jail. If the CBI can arrest him for his involvement in episode of bribing one of its officers with Rs 10,00,000 in cash by the minister, why not the journalists' body could condemn and expel him from the community-many journalists raised voices. There was however little voice in support of Mukul to explain his point of views. It was a general understanding that if Mukul was arrested by the CBI (which can never do wrong!), he must have been a criminal. And hence there were no point discussing his version of self defense and even not to wait for the final verdict of the court regarding the episode.But a journalists' meeting at Guwahati Press Club on June 22 changed the face of anger against Mukul. Organized by the Journalists' Action Committee, Assam and the representative of National Federation of Newspaper Employees, the meeting insisted on providing space for Mukul to clarify his stand at the earliest. Presided over by a journalist Keshab Kalita, the meeting also decided to send a delegation of journalists to New Delhi to meet Mukul and pick up his explanation on the incident. The delegation was supposed to meet the concerned CBI officials as well.Various speakers in the meeting were unanimous in asserting that Mukul could never be 'the only and the last tainted reporter', working in Assam for various media. It was observed that a section of journalists tried to establish it with their comments soon after the incident. Hence they urged the editors to keep a vigil on the working journalists of the respective media houses."If Mukul is proved to be involved in the episode, for which he was arrested by the CBI, the journalists' body would support appropriate actions against the reporter. He will also be expelled from the journalists' body," said in a resolution of the meeting.In another resolution, the meeting demanded the minimum salary and other economic facilities to the working journalists of Assam. Speakers including Prakash Mahanta (a senior journalist and the secretary of Journalists Action Committee, Assam), Sabita Lahkar (editor of an Assamese monthly, Ajori), Mukul Kalita and Naresh Kalita (both are Guwahati based senior journalists) expressed resentment at the disappointing condition of the working journalists of the state, where over 60% of them were compelled to work without a proper appointment letter, salary structure, leave and other relevant facilities, which are recommended by various laws including the Indian Labour Act. The meeting was also addressed by Pankaj Dutta, Neetumoni Saikia, Samir Sandilya, Nayanjyoti Bhuyan (all are reporters associated with vernacular media) etc."This is very unfortunate that media persons in Assam have to work with a salary starting with even Rs. 2000 with absolutely no job security. Many times, the journalists (including the editors) are used by the proprietors of media groups for their business (other than media) interest. So in such a chaotic situation, we can hardly expect a fair journalism in the state," commented a Guwahati based senior citizen, Dimbeswar Talukder. He however added that it was not only the local and less paid scribes, who were engaged with some corrupt means, but a section of established journalists (belonged to news agencies and metro dailies) with adequate financial security too continued indulging with such kind of activities.His comment was supported by a city based scribe, Haren Kalita, arguing that there were many journalists, who pursued unethical means for personal benefits, of course, in a different way. "Why are you making so much noise against the poor reporter (Mukul Pathak)? Do not you know that many so-called senior and responsible journalists were equally involved in corrupt practices? I know that they do it in a more polished manner. So nobody find it worth bothering," he commented.Devashish Bhattacharjee, another city based reporter raised a vital point, "Take an example. We have a number journalist cum documentary film makers (employed with professional media houses) in the city, who works for the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India). There may be nothing wrong to produce documentaries for Doordarshan, but when one does it on some government departments, it might turn sour. Suppose, one proposes for productions related to the state forest department and take all possible advantages (conveyance to lodging in forest guest houses) from the department while on shooting, is not it a wring way? Because the producers had already received (or will receive) the money against all relevant expenditures from Prasar Bharati, then why he should go begging the unethical support from the department? Will he be able to raise voice (to file news) against the department in future in a credible way?"Bhattacharjee wrapped up with a final say, "Was not exactly it a cause, why many journalists in Assam ignored the public resentment against the state forest department during the last few months for its failure to protect the endangered one horn rhinos in various national preserves? One can go for record that those journalists remained silent while the conscious people of the state came to the streets condemning the state forest minister for his negligence in duties, but they were too quick to report when the minister or the forest officials made some statements (though many times those were proved useless). Is not it a matter of corruption in different shape and sizes? Source: assamtimes.org

Court says no to bail plea of Ripun, 2 others

Court says no to bail plea of Ripun, 2 others

The court of R K Jain in Delhi court on Saturday rejected the bail petitions of sacked education minister Ripun Bora and two of his associates and extended their judicial remand by July 5. Before that Bora, his aides Ramesh Maheswari and Mukul Pathak were produced before the court and after hearing the arguments, the court rejected their bail petitions. On the other hand, the Delhi High Court is also remaining closed to hear the petition challenging the lower court order.
The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Bora and Maheswari from Delhi and Pathak from Guwahati on June 3 charging with trying to bribe one of its official who is probing the sensation Denial Topno murder case. After the end of the CBI custody the trio have been remanded to judicial custody and sent to the Tihar Jail. Talking to the waiting reporters, Bora said he would spill the beans the real story once he gets bail.

CBI may make Pathak its approver Bora’s bail plea rejected; to move High Court

From our Correspondent NEW DELHI, June 9:

Justice AP Garg of Tis Hazari Court of Delhi today rejected the bail plea of sacked Asom Education Minister Ripun Bora and his Delhi linkman Ramesh Maheswari. No bail petition has, however, been submitted to the court for journalist Mukul Pathak who was also arrested by the CBI in connection with the case.Ripun Bora’s advocate A Khan and Ramesh Maheswari’s counsel Harish Sharma jointly submitted the bail petition of the former minister and his linkman to the court on Saturday last. When the bail petition came up for hearing today, advocate Khan said: “Matters like as to why the CID gave Bora a clean chit in the Daniel Topno murder case need to looked afresh.” According to Khan, Bora had been in touch with CBI official AB Gupta since April last. Bora and the CBI official had separate meetings on April 16 and 26 in Delhi and Kolkata respectively. “Why didn’t the CBI arrest Ripun Bora then?” Khan questioned. He further said: “I said all these facts in accordance with the CBI’s case diary.” On the CBI’s statement that Bora had made an attempt to flee leaving the suitcase containing the cash near Room No. 213 of Jokashu Inn in Delhi on June 3, Khan questioned: “How can it be? Since Bora had been in touch with the CBI since April last, how could he change his mind all of a sudden on June 3 and try to flee?” He said the role of the CBI officer in the case needs to be examined.Maheswari’s advocate Harish Sharma wanted to know as to why his client was arrested as he was not on the spot where Bora and the CBI official met. CBI advocate BP Singh, on the other hand, argued that the duo should not be granted bail as there is every possibility of them tampering with evidence and witnesses if they are freed from judicial custody. After a patient hearing of all the sides, Justice Garg rejected Bora and Maheswari’s bail plea.Talking to newsmen later, Khan said: “We will move the High Court soon seeking bail for Bora.” It may be mentioned here that the Delhi High Court is closed till July 1.CBI sources, on the other hand, said the investigating agency is contemplating on making journalist Mukul Pathak the Government approver.

Gogoi set to showcase development before Sonia

By our Staff ReporterGUWAHATI, June 9: Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is preparing to showcase the developmental activities taken up by his Government during its two years to please Congress president Sonia Gandhi who is reportedly upset with the Government in the wake of the arrest of sacked Asom Education Minister Ripun Bora. According to highly-placed sources in the Congress, Sonia Gandhi is already disturbed due to the poll debacle that the party faced in a number of States. “The arrest of former Asom Education Minister Ripun Bora on the charge of bribing a CBI official at a time when the Lok Sabha election is nearing has disappointed the AICC chief. This is close on the heels of the anti-Gogoi lobby from Asom moving the party high command against Gogoi and a few of his Cabinet colleagues,” sources said, and added: “These developments have prompted the AICC president to pay a two-day visit to Asom.”Sensing the trouble ahead, the Gogoi administration has been racing against time to impress Sonia Gandhi with the developmental works done by his Government in his second term so far. According to party sources, the Chief Minister has already asked all the departments to submit reports of developmental activities done by them, and the report of all the developmental activities of the departments is being prepared by the Chief Minister’s Office. All the party MLAs have also been asked to make the June 13 farmers’ rally at Khanapara in Guwahati a grand success.The Congress MLAs, on the other hand, would have a tough time. According to party sources, the MLAs were the main crowd pullers in the May 25 celebrations on the completion of two years of the Congress-BPF Government in the State. “Bringing party supporters from faraway places to Guwahati is a matter of huge expenditure. As the MLAs had to spend huge amounts while pulling crowd from various districts of the State to Guwahati on May 25, pulling such crowd again in less than a month will be a financially burdensome for them,” party sources said. Meanwhile, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhubaneswar Kalita has requested all party MPs, MLAs, AICC members, PCC members, ZP members and District Congress Committee (DCC) members to ensure participation of farmers in large numbers from their respective areas in the June 13 rally in Guwahati. APCC’s media department secretary Amal Narayan Patowary said AICC’s Asom in-charge M Veerappa Moily will accompany Sonia Gandhi during the farmers’ rally in Guwahati. Moily is supposed to attend a party meeting on June 14 in Guwahati, he said. According to APCC sources, the farmers’ rally will highlight the farmers’ loan waiver scheme so as to boost agricultural production.

Sonia’s Asom visit may be cancelled

From our CorrespondentNEW DELHI, June 9: Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s proposed two-day Asom visit beginning June 13 may be cancelled. According to AICC sources, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a meeting with Sonia Gandhi on her proposed visit to Asom.Earlier in the day, former Asom Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar met the Prime Minister and sought his intervention in the current situation in Asom. Mahanta was followed by a delegation each of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the AGP which also drew the Prime Minister’s attention towards the situation in Asom. The Prime Minister talked to Sonia Gandhi only after his meetings with the delegations from Asom. Sources close to Sonia Gandhi told newsmen that the AICC chief’s Asom visit may be cancelled. Source: Sentinel Assam

Ripun’s deal was for Rs 70 lakh

Our Staff Correspondent NEW DELHI, June 6 –

Mukul Pathak, the journalist who was arrested along with sacked Assam Education Minister Ripun Bora today said that the deal was originally for Rs 3.5 crore but was later negotiated down to Rs 70 lakh. The Rs 10 lakh that was allegedly paid on June 2 was the first instalment. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially described Mukul Pathak as a ‘conduit’.It may be mentioned that the duo was arrested along with a Delhi-based businessman, Ramesh Maheswari, in Delhi on the charge of offering a Rs 10-lakh bribe to the investigation agency. Pathak was produced before the court of VK Maheswari, Tis Hazari, today where the CBI was granted one more day’s of custody. All the three accused would be produced before the Special Court at Tis Hazari tomorrow. Mukul Pathak told newsmen while he was being produced at the court that he arranged for a meeting of Abhigyan Gogoi, a cousin of AB Gupta, DSP, CBI, Eastern Range, and Diganta Saikia, a surrendered ULFA man, with the CBI officer for arriving at a ‘deal’ with the latter. Pathak said that he only acted as a middle-man for Abhigyan, Diganta and Ripun Bora, and beyond that he had no role in the entire episode. Incidentally, Abhigyan is a son of Nomal Gogoi, an Assam Police officer, and also a cousin of the CBI DSP AB Gupta. Gogoi’s wife, a Bengali woman, is a sister-in-law of AB Gupta. Pathak, who broke down several times in the court today, claimed that he merely arranged for the meeting for the deal, and that he neither collected nor gave the money. Pathak, however, said that he was treated ‘fairly’ by the CBI. His only grievance was that he had been in the same pair of dress since his arrest.