PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
A Dehradun based journalist Hem Bhatt was detained by the police early on Saturday morning and released after questioning on the same day. According to Bhatt’s wife, five to six men in civil dress along with one person in police uniform came to their house around 4 AM and took him away without informing the family where he was being taken or the reason behind the action.
The incident created controversy after Gadarpur MLA Arvind Pandey posted a video on social media claiming that the police had wrongly picked up Bhatt. In the video, Pandey alleged that pressure was being created on the journalist and questioned the police action.
Police officials later said that Bhatt was called for questioning on the basis of suspicion in connection with an ongoing investigation and was released after inquiry. However, the matter has sparked political reactions and raised questions over the manner in which the journalist was picked up from his residence.
Dehradun superintendent of police (City) Pramod Kumar said that Bhatt was called to the police station after his name reportedly surfaced during Pradeep Saklani’s interrogation. Saklani is currently lodged in jail under judicial custody after being arrested by Raipur police for alleged land fraud cases. Police said that Saklani carried a reward of Rs 20,000 on his arrest and is facing more than 26 cases related to land fraud registered at different police stations in the district. Apart from this, more than two dozen cheque bounce cases against him are also pending in various courts.
According to police officials, Saklani was wanted in three land fraud cases registered at Nehru Colony police station and one case at Raipur police station. During interrogation, the accused reportedly revealed the names of several persons who were in contact with him and had helped him in carrying out fraud activities. Police said some of these people were also allegedly helping him avoid police action and trying to settle the cases.
