Chhattisgarh BJP MP's son held for attacking journalist over news report

A Chhattisgarh BJP MP's son and his friend have been arrested for allegedly assaulting a journalist and his parents in Surguja district for publishing a report on "irregularities" in implementation of a government scheme in the area, police said on Wednesday.

Devendra Singh Maravi (32) and his friend Shivwrat Singh were arrested last night on a complaint filed by scribe Rajesh Prasad Gupta, a local police official told PTI.

Devendra's father Kamalbhan Singh Maravi represents Surguja constituency in Lok Sabha.

Gupta, who lives in Jamgala village in the district and works for Raipur-based Hindi newspaper "Haribhoomi", had reported about alleged irregularities in the implementation of 'Nal Jal' scheme in his village, the official said.

The scheme envisages providing piped water supply on affordable term in villages.

Enraged by the report, Devendra, who also belongs to Jamgala village, landed at Gupta's house with Shivwrat Singh on June 25 and assaulted him, he said quoting the complaint.

When Gupta's father Duhan Das (55) and mother Janaki Bai (50) tried to intervene, they were also brutally thrashed by the two accused who fled from the spot soon after, the journalist alleged in his complaint.

The official said Janaki Bai sustained serious injuries in the incident.

When contacted, the MP said, "Police are investigating the matter. The law will take its own course".

A case was registered under sections 294 (abuse in public), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC against Devendra and Shivwrat Singh with Lakhanpur police station, he said.