This issue is more complex than that. Some facts to consider: * Sujay Gupta (and Herald) played a key role in BJP's ascent to power in Goa, 2012. * Without stoking Catholic disenchantment against Congress, this would probably not have worked. * For whatever reasons, for some time now the paper has been attacked the BJP. * The casino video dates back to early 2015. * When asked why the delay in releasing it, Mayabhushan replied that he "got the video last month". https://goo.gl/qw0Hmb * Whatever the matter, this does give a bad name to dissent, and strengthens the official hand. * Critics will more easily be seen to have questionable motives. * Adv Rajeev Gomes, Margao, filed a police complaint, which was said to have been getting examined, against "management, managerial staff and editorial personnel" alleging extortion. http://goo.gl/8klUjp Gomes has discussed his action via Facebook. * The police meanwhile proceeded on the 'illegal lottery housie' case against the Herald. http://goo.gl/IejxQw * The 'Mexican housie' and 'German housie' has been very publicly run for quite some time now; seven years by one count. There is nothing new or covert about it. * Mayabhushan has been campaigning against media corruption and misuse. In Goa, his campaigns have focussed mainly on the Herald. This paper is his ex-employer (and, btw, mine too). * Media misdeeds, corruption are indeed not restricted to the Herald alone. Is the official action taken even-handed and consistent? * Meanwhile, continuing on the strange twists, taking cognisance of the Herald complaint, meanwhile, the Goa Police summoned Mayabhushan in a case alleging data theft and hacking from the newspaper. http://bit.ly/2aakCSX * Could also be a convenient sword to keep over the head of another journalist. * Remember a publication called Tehelka (since badly discredited) and a Tarun Tejpal? This may or may not be relevant here....
The aim here is not to defend one side or the other, but just to point to the wheels within wheels. Not all may be obvious from afar. Disclosure: I have worked for the Herald for a four-year period in the 1980s, and two short stints later. But media issues might just be more important than our personal interests here. FN
