In a huge embarrassment, journalist Rajdeep Sardesai found his picture splashed across the front pages of Odisha newspaper “Sambad” on September 23 morning, as a terror suspect.
The person looked eerily similar to Sardesai and the matter was highlighted by Sardesai himself in a series of tweets.
Screen grab of the e-newspaper
Sardesai blamed right-wing Twitter gangs for the “mischief” alleging that the newspaper’s article was based on their tweets.
Just saw a Odhiya newspaper Sambad puts up my sketch as a terror suspect based on RW Twitter gang mischief.If not war, these guys will kill!
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 23, 2016
Photo shopped pics,lies,fake reporting, abuse: what next will this bhakt army stoop to on Twitter? And who will call their diabolical bluff?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 23, 2016
However, Sambad’s Twitter handle later apologised to Rajdeep, who accepted their apology and asked them to do a refresher course.
@sardesairajdeep Sir, we sincerely apologise for this grave error on our part.
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Top Most Characters of Mahabharata— Sambad (@sambad_odisha) September 23, 2016
Apology accepted but expect it with the same prominence on your front page Tomw. And start a refresher course. https://t.co/Z7IAqbUE4a
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 23, 2016
Sardesai tweeted the screenshot of it saying it’s a lesson for others to be more careful:
Appreciate unreserved apology from editor @sambad_odisha on front page. Lesson for all of us to be more careful. pic.twitter.com/QPF6sWB976
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 24, 2016
The paper had also updated their epaper which had the sketch.
Sambad’s article followed developments in Mumbai where school children claimed they found a group of men carrying arms near the Uran naval base. While the first child informed the school principal about one suspected terrorist, the other reported a group of 5-6 – all dressed in black, pathani suits and probably carrying weapons in their backpacks. Both reported spotting the terrorists near the Uran bus depot.
