Six journalists in Varanasi were booked on charges of distorting and circulating a video on social media that allegedly misrepresented routine cleaning work at a statue of reformer-activist Madan Mohan Malaviya.
Filed on June 26, the two FIRs claim that the video was edited and shared on social media in a way that could incite caste-based tensions, spread hatred, provoke people, and disturb public order. However, some of the accused journalists Newslaundry spoke to argue that they were having regular discussions about the video on a private WhatApp group, and not a social media platform.
Newslaundry has accessed copies of both FIRs. Those named include Arshad Alam, admin of the WhatsApp group Khabar Banaras; Abhishek Jha from NBT Online; Abhishek Tripathi from Hindustan; Sonu Singh from Dainik Jagran; TV journalist Shailesh Chaurasia; and Nitin Kumar Rai. They face charges under sections 356(3) and 196(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – stirring hatred or enmity and statements/actions inciting unrest, defamation, or intimidation that disturbs public order – and sections of the IT Act.
Speaking to Newslaundry, SI Abhishek Kumar Singh said, “Some people were cleaning Malaviya Ji’s statue. A video of this was made and shown in a misleading manner. We received confirmation from the Public Works Department (PWD) that this cleaning was officially authorised.”
Shailesh Chaurasia, one of the journalists named, said he was shocked to find his name in the FIR. “There is a statue of Malaviya Ji in front of Banaras Hindu University. A video went viral showing a boy sitting on the statue’s shoulder. It was shared in the Khabar Banaras WhatsApp group, which has over 600 members, including journalists and police officials, where news updates are regularly exchanged. The group’s admin is Arshad Alam.”
“There was a discussion about the video. Someone said there is always security there, and I just replied that such things happen as per orders and instructions. I also wrote that people should drop the matter. Later that evening, I found out I had been named in the FIR.”
The Information Department later released a statement clarifying that the cleaning was routine. Executive engineer KK Singh said statues at intersections under the PWD’s charge are regularly cleaned by PWD contractors. He called reports claiming workers climbed the statue for cleaning misleading.
Taking the video’s sensitivity into account, the local police acted swiftly. According to an NBT Online report, the Lanka police formed a team of outpost in-charges from Nagwa, Sankat Mochan, and BHU to trace those seen in the video and take legal action. The video’s date is yet to be confirmed, but the team has been instructed to identify the youths quickly.
A journalist named in the FIR told Newslaundry, on condition of anonymity, that the nine-second video was simply shared in a WhatsApp group for discussion. “This group includes journalists and senior officers, even the commissioner. We were only discussing who the boys were. The FIR has been filed just on the basis of this discussion. The police calling a WhatsApp group a social media platform is strange – it’s a private group, not a public page.”
Currently, Lanka SHO is on leave. The charge is being handled by Lanka Crime Branch in-charge Santosh Pandey, who confirmed to Newslaundry that the FIR was filed after the youths were identified. “The boys were PWD workers cleaning the statue. But the video was shared with caste-based comments to stir controversy. It wasn’t limited to WhatsApp; it was seen on other platforms like Instagram too.”
He added that the FIR was filed following instructions from the DCP. “The investigation is on. We’ll take a report from the cyber cell as well. We’re tracking IP addresses and checking who was running the group.”
Reacting to the incident, Congress state president Ajay Rai posted on X, saying, “In the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, journalism itself has now become the biggest crime!”
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