Journalist Arrested Over Controversial Remarks on Maratha Rulers

Journalist Prashant Koratkar was arrested in Telangana by Maharashtra Police for making derogatory remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son. The arrest followed a case filed in Kolhapur after his statements, made during a conversation with historian Indrajeet Sawant, sparked public outrage when shared on social media.

Maharashtra Police apprehended Nagpur-based journalist Prashant Koratkar from Telangana on Monday following allegations of making disparaging remarks about the 17th-century Maratha ruler, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji. His arrest followed the registration of a case against him in Kolhapur. Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit confirmed the arrest, stating, "We have taken him into custody, and a police team is bringing him to Kolhapur. Further legal procedure will follow."

Police investigations revealed Koratkar's presence in Telangana, prompting an immediate deployment of a team to detain him. He will be presented in a Kolhapur court after being returned to Maharashtra. Koratkar's booking under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions stems from an audio exchange with Kolhapur-based historian Indrajeet Sawant. This conversation was made public by Sawant on social media, inciting widespread backlash and demands for Koratkar's arrest.

Previously, on February 26, Additional Sessions Judge DV Kashyap had extended arrest protection to Koratkar until March 1, a decision challenged by the Kolhapur police at the Bombay High Court. Although Koratkar sought pre-arrest bail, citing his phone's compromise and claiming the audio was tampered with, his bail plea was dismissed on March 18 by the Additional Sessions Judge in Kolhapur. Despite Koratkar's assertion that Sawant's actions aimed to instigate communal discord, the police have been actively pursuing him, as reiterated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

(With inputs from agencies.)