Kurukshetra: Haryana Police have arrested Living India News managing director Atul Aggarwal, three journalists and a driver in connection with the alleged broadcast of a fake sting operation involving a private video, police said.
Those arrested include Aggarwal, editor Saurabh, anchor Sudesh Nain, journalist Neetu and driver Lovepreet. Police said the channel allegedly presented a six-month-old private video involving two individuals as a sting operation.
According to Kurukshetra superintendent of police Chander Mohan, the complainant alleged that the video, recorded on April 16, 2026, was falsely portrayed as an investigative sting. The complainant also accused the channel of blackmail, alleging that threats were made to prevent the truth about the video from being disclosed.
A case has been registered at City Thanesar police station under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Mohan said police had collected key evidence, including the original video, details about when it was recorded and information about those who filmed it. Investigators are also examining the alleged motive behind the dissemination of misleading information, he added.
The channel, however, has claimed on its website that the arrests were linked to its campaign against the illegal drug trade in Haryana. It said it had been running a major drive to help make the country drug-free and questioned whether action against journalists exposing alleged wrongdoing in the public interest was justified.
The Chandigarh Press Club condemned the arrests and detention of the channel’s journalists, calling on authorities to clearly explain the grounds for such action and safeguard their legal rights. It said police powers should not be used to intimidate journalists or undermine press freedom.
Former Haryana chief minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda also condemned the arrests.
