Sarpanch slaps YouTuber, FIR after 13 days:24 village heads complain, say he blackmails posing as journalist; audio surfaces

A case of assault involving a YouTuber in Rajgarh has come into the spotlight. Police have registered a case in the matter. At the same time, sarpanchs across the district have started a protest. It is being alleged that some journalists were operating as a group and were blackmailing sarpanchs. An audio recording of a conversation related to the case is available with Dainik Bhaskar. One of the sarpanchs, Shravan Patidar, is said to be a supporter of the BJP. To understand the full matter, the team spoke to all sides involved. The incident dates back 16 days. On February 11, around 12 noon, in Ikleragaon village under the Talen police station area of Rajgarh, Panchayat Secretary Ashok Patidar was at his home. During that time, he received a call from an unknown number on his mobile phone. He ignored the first call. When the phone rang again, he answered it. The caller introduced himself as journalist Vishwas Chandravanshi and said he had come from Bhopal. He asked where Ashok Patidar was. Ashok replied that he was at his home in Ikleragaon. Secretary said – They were talking in the style of officers Secretary Ashok Patidar says that Vishwas Chandravanshi’s manner of speaking was such as if he were a government officer. Ashok says – “I couldn’t understand what to do? I quickly reached the Panchayat.” The three people were standing in the Panchayat with IDs of two-three TV channels. Asking them about tea and snacks, he said that if they had called earlier, the Sarpanch would have been available. Ignoring the remark, they said that there are many complaints here, and it would have to be looked into at a higher level. After saying this much, all three left. Conversation between Sarpanch and YouTuber YouTuber – Where are you, Sarpanch sir! Hello!.. Where are you? Secretary – I am in Iklera, sir YouTuber – Send someone to the Panchayat Secretary – Who are you? Youtuber- Journalist speaking, we have come from Bhopal Secretary- Okay- okay Youtuber- You send both GRS and the Minister, and you also come Secretary- Sir, they have gone to Narsinghgarh Youtuber- Shall I talk? Where is GRS? The situation is very bad, there are many complaints Secretary – You could have called Youtuber- Yes, call We just reached near the village, that’s when I called you. Please send the GRS sir. Sarpanch received a call at night The secretary said that when Sarpanch Shravan Patidar came at night, I told him everything. He said that we should have shown the journalists around the village. A little later, Vishwas Chandravanshi’s call came to the Sarpanch. He put it on speaker and started talking. The journalist talked about irregularities and corruption in the work and demanded 10 thousand rupees. Sarpanch ji said – There is no irregularity anywhere. Work is being done in our village. You can come and see whenever you want. After this, the journalist demanded money. said that he is the president of the Journalists’ Association. One has to pay up to the top. The Sarpanch told him that he could come to Iklera and see the work whenever he wanted, but the journalist kept asking for money repeatedly. Sarpanch said – Showed the whole village, also showed the work Ashok Patidar said that on the afternoon of February 13, the Sarpanch was in the Panchayat. An SUV was seen coming from a distance. Thought someone was coming to someone’s house in the village. The car stopped in front of the Panchayat building. The journalists who got out of it asked, “Where is Shravan?” I replied, “He has gone to Rajgarh today. It’s only been half an hour.” They said, “Call him back.” I called the Sarpanch and informed him about the arrival of the journalists. He said he was coming back. I conveyed the same to all three journalists. After a while, the Sarpanch arrived. The journalists told him about irregularities in the construction work. As soon as he heard this, the Sarpanch said- “Come with me and show me. Where have the irregularities occurred?” He took all three of them around the entire village. He showed them all the places where work was being done. When the journalist’s attitude seemed like he was trying to intimidate them, the Sarpanch, in anger, slapped him. A new twist came into the story after 10 days On the night of February 23, journalist Sanjay Singh Solanki’s house in Ikleragaon village was attacked. Miscreants tried to break the house door. They vandalized the car, bike, and washing machine parked outside. Sanjay Singh filed an FIR at the police station. On February 24, Sanjay Singh posted a video of a journalist being beaten on social media. Following this, YouTubers Vishwas Chandravanshi, Dharmendra Bamaniya, and Jitendra Nayak, residents of Kalapipal in Shajapur district, submitted an application to SP Amit Tolana against Sarpanch Shravan Patidar. They alleged that the Sarpanch had assaulted all three of them. On the evening of February 25, acting on the SP’s instructions, a case was registered at Talen police station against Sarpanch Patidar and his associate Rambabu Gothi under sections of assault. Sarpanch Association entered the field as soon as the case was registered Following this, more than 25 Sarpanchs and Secretaries came out in support of the Sarpanch. On February 25, the Sarpanch and Secretary Association provided evidence to the police, such as audio recordings and screenshots of money transactions. They also accused the YouTubers of blackmail. He says that not only the Talen area but also the sarpanchs of the Kalapipal area are troubled by such journalists. These people claim to be from Bhopal and continuously extort money from less educated or uneducated sarpanchs by threatening them with an investigation into irregularities and scams in construction. Sarpanchs said – they extort money by claiming to be journalists Sarpanch Shravan Patidar alleges that outsiders come here and identify themselves as journalists. They extort money. He has provided records to the SP sir showing how money was taken from all the sarpanchs. These people had also come on February 11. That day, they extorted money from the sarpanchs of more than 12 panchayats, including nearby Tajipura, Nahli, Borkheda, by threatening them, taking 4, 5, or 2 thousand rupees from each. They had demanded 20 thousand rupees from me over the phone. They were saying that it was an order from above. It’s a big panchayat, so this much has to be given. When they came again on February 13, I was going to Rajgarh that day. Upon receiving the call, I returned from seven kilometres away. When I talked to them, they started threatening me for not giving them money. I took them to the site and showed them the construction in front of the villagers. Still, constantly harassed by threats of complaining to the Janpad (block) and officials, I had to give in. YouTuber said – Sarpanch had assaulted them Youtuber Vishwas Chandravanshi says that he went to Iklera village on February 13. Sarpanch Shravan Patidar abused and assaulted him. He was threatened not to be seen in Iklera. When asked why he filed the complaint of assault 13 days later, Vishwas Chandravanshi replied, “I did not file a complaint due to fear. We are being told that the reason for the vandalism at Iklera journalist Sanjay Solanki’s house on February 23 is us. The accused suspect that we went to Iklera at Sanjay’s behest.” SDOP Arvind Singh said that sarpanches from more than 24 panchayats in Rajgarh and Shajapur districts have filed a complaint against three people at the SP office. They have come for investigation. Action will be taken according to whatever truth comes out during the investigation.