Babu Lal Meena, a 1991 batch IAS officer, who is serving as additional chief secretary horticulture, sericulture and food processing department in Uttar Pradesh government, has filed an FIR against a journalist Vikas Srivastava.
Meena has accused Srivastava, who is working with digital wing of a well-known Hindi media group, of circulating “misleading” information intended to “tarnish” the officer's reputation.
In the complaint, Meena has alleged that the journalist has put online “false details” and referred names of his subordinates for pushing false story.
According to the police, the FIR has been registered at the cyber police station in Lucknow on several charges, including defamation, criminal intimidation and offences under the Information Technology Act. “
“Meena has also accused the journalist of blackmail and attempting to tarnish his image. The matter is under investigation,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Lucknow) Kamlesh Kumar Dixit.
Police said the complainant enclosed the findings of an “internal inquiry” with his complaint and has sought action to block circulation of the “false” material.
What story Srivastava had published?
A week back, Srivastava had published a story about behaviour of Meena in his department. In the story, it was mentioned that some female employees of Meena's department had levelled allegation of mental harassment, misbehaviour and misuse of power against Meena.
In the story, journalist Srivastava had also mentioned about complaints in PMO and IGRS online compliant portal of UP government along with detail.

The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.