In a major crackdown, the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Northern Range Dharamshala, on Tuesday arrested an owner of News Channel red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh in Kangra district.
Amir Chand Dogra, owner of the local news channel “A Star News”, was caught in the act following a complaint filed by Bhuvnesh Chand Sood, a resident of Palampur. According to the bureau’s press release, Dogra had allegedly demanded the money to suppress a video clip related to a land deal involving the complainant’s son.
The accused reportedly threatened Sood with defamation, warning that he would broadcast the video on social media platforms to malign his reputation. The video purportedly pertained to a land purchase in Palampur. Fearing reputational damage, the complainant approached the vigilance bureau, which laid a trap and caught Dogra while he was accepting the extortion amount.
A case under Section 308(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered against Dogra at the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau Police Station in Dharamshala. Officials confirmed that the accused was arrested on the spot, and further investigation is currently underway.
The case has sparked widespread concern over the misuse of journalistic platforms for personal gain and coercion. Authorities have assured that the matter would be investigated thoroughly to uphold accountability in public discourse.
