BENGALURU: In a shocking development, it has been revealed that two journalists from a Kannada monthly newspaper are facing allegations of extortion and intimidation. The FIR was registered against Sarath Babu and Gurumurthy at the Kengeri police station after a complaint was filed by C N Ashok, the Executive Engineer of the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) division of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
According to Ashok’s complaint, the journalists falsely accused him and his team of assistant executive engineers of accepting bribes and delivering substandard work. The situation took a dark turn in November 2024 when the duo demanded a hefty sum of Rs 27 lakh from Ashok, threatening to report him to the Lokayukta if he did not comply. They even went as far as suggesting that Ashok construct a shed in Ramanagara as an alternative payment option.
Babu, one of the journalists, also warned Ashok of using RTI to gather project details and take legal action against him if his demands were not met. Ashok expressed his frustration in the complaint, stating that Babu and Gurumurthy were misusing RTI to extort money from them.
This troubling incident highlights the abuse of power and manipulation within the media industry. The authorities are treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves, and justice will be served to uphold the safety and integrity of public officials like Ashok and his team.
