Lawfare – General, Journalists

“After the video of the Churu DSP slapping a woman constable on the back to catch her attention went viral, an FIR has now been lodged against journalist Akhter Mugal who recorded the incident.

Mugal had gone live on Facebook from the collectorate gate during Congress’s ‘Halla Bol’ rally on June 9, and recorded DSP Sunil Jhajharia slapping a woman constable on her back as she could not hear him the first time. After the video went viral, the SP’s act drew sharp criticism from various quarters with Nagaur BJP MP Hanuman Beniwal demanding his suspension. Several major news outlets ran the story, questioning the DSP’s behaviour and demanding an explanation from the police department.

The FIR against Mugal was lodged on the basis of a complaint by the woman constable who alleged that the journalist had edited and distorted the video and made it go viral without her permission. The FIR (139/2025) against Mughal and others in Kotwali Churu mentions Section 352 and 79 of BNS and Section 72 of IT Act. These people were accused of sharing the edited video with the intention of defaming Rajasthan Police. The claim by Churu Police that the video had been edited has already been debunked by Alt News. Readers should note that videos broadcast live on Facebook can not be edited.

Mugal released a video on June 17 narrating his ordeal after the FIR was registered. He says in the video that he was called to the police station by inspector Sukh Ram Chotiya on June 14, where his mobile phone was confiscated. During this, he was forced to sign on four blank papers, his mother and sister were abused and he was also threatened with imprisonment.”