Madhya Pradesh journalist booked over Facebook post allegedly after BJP member's complaint

The Madhya Pradesh police booked a Gwalior-based journalist after a Bharatiya Janata Party leader allegedly complained about the journalist's Facebook post.

According to National Herald, Tansen Tiwari, 66, wrote a post on May 22 which said: "Gappu, Tadipar, Balatkari, aprakirtik sasanghat walo ko pare kar de to BJP suchmuch dheynisht party hai." This reportedly "irked" Awdesh Pratap Singh, an advocate and BJP member who then reported the matter to the police using the BJP's official letterhead.

National Herald reports: "Interestingly, in the police complaint, the BJP member claimed that the post indirectly referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘Gappu’ and other party leaders as ‘Tadipar’, ‘balatkari’ (rapist), which, he alleged, was an attempt to defame the party and its leaders."

Tiwari was subsequently booked under Sections 294 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 67 of the IT Act.

The report also quoted Singh as saying that Tiwari "constantly speaks against the BJP leaders". A police official also told the publication: "A case has been registered against Tansen Tiwari on Sunday on a complaint made by a BJP leader...for a Facebook post. A probe is on but no arrest has been made yet."

It should be noted that National Herald is associated with the Congress party and can be called its mouthpiece. The Congress is in the Opposition in Madhya Pradesh.

Newslaundry has not been able to independently verify the claims made in the report. We will update this piece with information that we're able to collate from the ground.

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