​​​​​​​Arrest warrant against journalist Deepak Chaurasia

Gurugram Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Shashi Chauhan of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court has issued an arrest warrant against television journalist Deepak Chaurasia. The warrant has been issued for November 21, 2022.

Chaurasia has been charged with airing ‘morphed, edited and obscene’ videos of a 10-year-old girl and her family and linking it to the sexual assault case against godman Asaram Bapu.

The court order said, “The bail of the applicant-accused Deepak Chaurasia is cancelled. His bail bond and surety bond are cancelled and forfeited to the State. Warrant of arrest against accused Deepak Chaurasia be issued for 21.11.2022. Notice to his surety under Section 446 Criminal Procedure Court (CrPC) and his identifier be also issued for the date fixed.” 

Passing the order on October 28, the court expressed its displeasure over Chaurasia’s absence and said that though an application for exemption from personal appearance had been filed stating that he had to be rushed to hospital because of low blood sugar level, but the same is not supported by any medical certificate or by an affidavit.

Judge Chauhan also noted that on September 23, a similar application was moved and “it appears that Chaurasia is intentionally avoiding his presence”.

The judge dismissed the application for exemption, stating that no ground is made out to all such exemption.

The case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered in December 2013, following a complaint filed by the child’s relative. News channels News24, India News and News Nation were accused of airing the video. According to reports, former News 24 managing editor Ajit Anjum, anchor Chitra Tripathi and Chaurasia are among eight people charge-sheeted in the case.

It is alleged that the video aired on these news channels partially revealed the faces of the girl child, complainant’s wife and some other women.

The Court has also issued bailable warrants against ACP Surender, Inspector Jitender, and Inspector Sanjay. They are stated to be the investigating officers (IOs) in the case.