Editors Guild seeks fair probe in Kolkata journalist's case

Expressing concern over the arrest of senior Kolkata journalist Suman Chattopadhyay, the Editors Guild of India on Thursday urged the government to make sure that the agencies handling the case are "fair in their prosecution" and that Chattopadhyay gets his options to seek legal recourse.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on December 20 arrested Chattopadhyay, Editor of a leading Bengali daily, for allegedly receiving money in his bank accounts from chit fund firm I-Core Group.

At the time of his arrest, Chattopadhyay was the Editor of 'Ei Samay', a Bengali newspaper published from Kolkata.

"The Guild believes that nobody has immunity from law and it must take its own course, but warns that the views held by Chattopadhyay in discharging his editorial responsibilities should not be held against him or become a factor in the investigation," the Guild said in a statement.

Chattopadhyay, also a director in Disha Productions and Media Pvt Ltd (DPMPL), was arrested after several hours of questioning at the CBI office in Kolkata.

The Guild also urged the government to make sure that its investigative agencies were "totally fair and professional in pursuing this investigation and prosecution".

"Chattopadhyay should also get all the options and facilities that are available to all citizens for seeking due legal recourse by the law enforcement authorities," the statement said.

Chattopadhyay will be produced in a special Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in Bhubaneswar in Odisa on Friday.

--IANS

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