STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: After demand of Rs 20,000 by a fake journalist Shubham Manswalia for deleting a video from his unregistered portal “The Daily Truth News’ another report of blackmailing surfaced in Jammu as a result of which a Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer, Zakir Hussain Wani, Additional Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD) has filed Rs 7 crore recovery suit against journalist Tousif Kraipak, alleging that the latter made defamatory statements against him on social media and other public platforms with an intent to damage his professional reputation and public standing.
In the suit, Wani claimed that the statements circulated by Kraipak were false, malicious, and defamatory, causing serious harm to his image as a public servant and subjecting him to mental distress and public ridicule. The officer has sought financial damages, removal of the alleged defamatory content, and a restraint on further such statements.
Kraipak appeared before the Court through his counsel, Advocate M. A. Dar, and received the suit copy in the proceedings.
The matter is currently pending before the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, and the next date of hearing has been fixed for December 11, 2025.
Besides this, there are many such complaints against fake journalists operating unregistered portals. The exposure of such fraudulent individuals, including Shubham of The Daily Truth News, who is already facing charges in snatching case, is a wake-up call for the authorities to act decisively against those who exploit the name of journalism for extortion and intimidation,” said Ex-President Press Club of Jammu Manu Shrivats.
He cautioned that the unchecked proliferation of unregistered portals and YouTube channels in the region poses a serious threat to the credibility of legitimate media and has led to growing instances of harassment, defamation, and blackmail.
“These self-styled ‘digital journalists’ neither follow ethical journalism nor hold any legal recognition. They misuse social media platforms to blackmail businessmen, government officials, and common citizens under the pretext of news reporting,” Manu stated, adding that such practices have brought disrepute to the noble profession of journalism.
“The Lieutenant Governor’s firm stance against fake journalists is a welcome step. It is essential to distinguish between true journalists committed to public service and those exploiting digital media for personal gain,” former PCJ President Manu Shrivats said.