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Mumbai: Tushar Kharat, editor of the local YouTube news channel 'Lay Bhari,' was arrested by the Satara police on Sunday for allegedly making derogatory remarks against a close aide of Maharashtra minister Jaykumar Gore. Additionally, he faces charges of attempting to extort Rs 5 crore from the minister, officials confirmed on Monday.
Arrest and Allegations
Kharat was taken into custody in Mumbai following a complaint by Shekhar Patole, BJP’s social media coordinator and an aide of Jaykumar Gore. According to an official from the Waduj police station, Patole alleged that Kharat used casteist slurs against him, issued death threats, and forcibly took away a hard disk. Furthermore, Kharat is accused of uploading defamatory content about Patole on his YouTube channel.
The journalist has been booked under various provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Information Technology Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Extortion Case Filed by Minister Jaykumar Gore
In a separate case, the Dahiwadi police registered a complaint against Kharat based on allegations by Minister Jaykumar Gore. The minister accused Kharat of reviving a 2016 harassment case against him and using it as leverage to demand Rs 5 crore. Gore’s complaint stated that Kharat threatened to fabricate further accusations with the help of two or three women unless the payment was made.
“We have registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS related to extortion, and further investigation is underway,” an official stated.
Political Controversy and Counterclaims
The arrest comes amid heightened political tensions, with opposition leaders previously calling for Gore’s resignation over allegations of harassment. Minister Gore has denied all accusations and last week submitted breach of privilege notices against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, and journalist Tushar Kharat, claiming defamation.
Before his arrest, Kharat posted a video on his YouTube channel, alleging that the cases against him were fabricated and politically motivated.
The case continues to unfold as investigations proceed.
