Gurugram POCSO Court issues arrest warrant against journalist Deepak Chaurasia for the second time

A Gurugram Court has issued a warrant of arrest against journalist and news-anchor Deepak Chaurasia for the second time in relation to a case of allegedly airing ‘morphed, edited and obscene’ videos of a 10-year-old girl and her family and linking it to the sexual assault case against godman Asaram Bapu..Additional Sessions Judge, Shashi Chauhan issued a non-bailable warrant after Chaurasia filed an application seeking non-appearance on the day of hearing citing a pre-scheduled interview of his media organisation with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath."Keeping in view the peculiar circumstances of the case that the present case has already become very old and registered under the POCSO Act and the application for personal exemption moved by the applicant/accused is not supported by any affidavit and no cogent documentary proof regarding his absence has been filed therefore, no ground is made out to allow the application and same stands dismissed," the Court directed..The Court also noted that the application moved by Chaurasia's counsel seeking his non- appearance was not supported by any affidavit and the same was moved without any accompanying cogent documentary proof explaining absence.During the course of hearing, the counsel argued that Chaurasia was not present in Court due to his prior professional commitment whereby he had to interview UP CM Yogi. He also placed on record the mail sent to Chaurasia from CM's office.The Court, however, rejected this argument stating that the mail was not communicated to Chaurasia but some other person and also objected to placing on record a confidential document (mail).The prosecution submitted that Chaurasia was deliberately not present before the Court on the day when the case was fixed for argument on the charge, as he wanted to delay the proceedings..The Court, therefore, issued arrest warrant against Chaurasia noting that he had previously also sought personal exemption from appearing in the hearing."Needless to say, that this is the third application for personal exemption moved by accused. Earlier was moved on 23.09.2022 and 28.10.2022.".The Court also canceled Chaurasia's bail bond and the surety bond. The same was forfeited to the State. A warrant of arrest was issued against Chaurasia for March 3, 2023 along with issuance of a notice to his surety under Section 446 Code of Criminal Procedure..The case relates to a first information report (FIR) registered on the complaint of the child’s relative in December 2013. News channels News24, India News and News Nation are accused of airing the video. According to reports, former News 24 managing editor Ajit Anjum, anchor Chitra Tripathi and Chaurasiya are among eight people charge-sheeted in the case.It is alleged that the video aired on these news channels partially revealed the faces of the girl child, complainant’s wife, and some other women..Pertinently, Chaurasia had previously in an order pronounced on October 28, sought exemption on the ground that he had to be rushed to hospital because of low blood sugar level though the same was not supported by any medical certificate or by an affidavit.The Court had then expressed its displeasure over Chaurasia’s absence.Judge Chauhan had further noted that even on September 23, a similar application was moved and it appeared that Chaurasia was intentionally avoiding his presence."No ground is made out to allow the exemption application and the same stands dismissed," the Court had said.