Atul Agrawal Arrest news: Whatever happened from Noida Extension to Chandigarh on the morning of 10 October has raised many serious questions on the fourth pillar of democracy and the functioning of the police.
Let us tell you that Atul Aggarwal, in his statement shared on the social media platform 'X', has alleged that the police in plain clothes with weapons entered his Noida Extension house and Chandigarh office without any warrant or notice, and took him into custody. So let us know through this article what is the whole matter.
Side of journalists and channel (Atul Agrawal Arrest)
Living India News Managing Director (MD) Atul Agrawal, in his statement shared on social media platform 'X', has alleged that police in plain clothes with weapons entered his Noida Extension home and Chandigarh office without any warrant or notice. Apart from Atul Aggarwal, editor Saurabh Upadhyay, anchor Sudesh Nain More, journalist Neetu Chauhan, CEO Manish Aggarwal and driver Lovepreet were detained in this action. The journalists have also made serious allegations that they were subjected to inhuman treatment and 'third degree torture' during police custody.
The channel management says that this entire action has been taken out of a sense of revenge for the #Udta_Haryana campaign being run against the increasing drug abuse in Haryana and for showing news on establishments linked to power. According to media reports, many opposition leaders, including Chandigarh Press Club and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda, condemned these arrests, calling them an attack on the freedom of the press.
At the same time, during the hearing of this case, the Kurukshetra court rejected the application for additional remand of 8 days sought by the police. According to the channel, on October 17, 2026, the court ordered the release on bail of all the accused, including Atul Aggarwal and Saurabh Upadhyay, which the channel management has described as a victory for truth.
When pens and cameras set out to expose the evils of society, they often have to go through the toughest tests of power and the system. Will journalists now have to pay the price of raising their voice against drugs through sudden raids and police harassment? Whatever happened on the morning of October 10 from Noida Extension to Chandigarh has raised many serious questions on the fourth pillar of democracy and the functioning of the police.
On one side are the claims of 'Drug Free India' and on the other side are the ordeals of those journalists who dared to show the reality of 'Udta Haryana'. This case has given rise to many serious questions – is there any value or security left in impartial journalism today?
On Saturday, October 10, at 7 am, around 15-17 people in plain clothes entered my house in Noida Extension. Some of them had AK 47 automatic rifles in their hands. When asked, they told that they were officers and soldiers of Crime Investigation Agency (CIA-2) of Kurukshetra Police. They snatched my mobile phone. Searched my entire house, without showing any documents. The bed, sofa, table were made a mess. Broke the knobs of the cupboards. Tore the packaging of the gift pack. Kitchen items were overturned. Tried removing the false ceiling of the bathrooms. After the house, my car was searched. Two people also did videography properly. After this I was made to sit in the numberless Scorpio. When asked, he told that he was taking him to Kurukshetra to talk to SP Saab. My first intern Neetu Chauhan and after me National Editor Sudesh Nain More, Group Input Editor Saurabh Upadhyay, CEO Manish Aggarwal and driver Lovepreet were also arrested from our Chandigarh office. All this was done because through the #Udta_Haryana news series on our 'Living India News' channel, awareness was being spread about the increasing drug addiction and to strengthen the 'Drug Free India' mission of Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. The question is, will India be able to become drug free by stripping us journalists and giving them 'third degree torture'? Well… thank you very much for your support, brother @AnilYadavmedia1 Yes 🙏🤝🫡
#nashamuktbharat #NashaMuktHaryana #DrugsFreeIndia #UdtaHaryana #नशा_मुक्त_पर्देश #नशा_मुक्त_हरियाना @HindiKhabar @LiPunjab @rishikeshlaw @nainsudesh18 @AmitShah @AmitShahOffice @HMOIndia @mlkhattar @India_NHRC @PCITweets @IndEditorsGuild @IEhindi @IndianExpress @cpc1980official @DUJ1949 @newslaundry @nlhindi @saurabhtop @gforgarima— Atul Agarwal Atul Agrawal 🇮🇳 (@atulaum_) November 11, 2026
Haryana Police's side
On the other hand, Kurukshetra Police has rejected all these allegations and described its action as completely legal. According to the official statement of Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police (SP) Chandramohan and Haryana Police, this case is related to the FIR registered under sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS) and the IT Act at Thanesar police station on the complaint of a victim.
Police claim that the video of drug consumption in a building in Sector-10, Kurukshetra, which the channel aired as a “live sting operation”, was actually a six-month-old private video recorded on April 16, 2026. According to the police, digital evidence like original videos, mobile phones and mutual WhatsApp chats of the accused have been recovered in the investigation. Police have also alleged that when the person seen in the video asked to reveal the truth, the channel officials blackmailed him.
Legal and democratic aspects
This entire controversy has raised two very sensitive questions related to Indian democracy and law and order – firstly, the freedom of the press and secondly, the ethics and accountability of journalism. In any vibrant democracy, it is the constitutional right and duty of the media to expose drug abuse, corruption or irregularities in power.
If journalists are arrested without due process of law (such as notice or warrant) for raising issues of public interest, or face allegations of inhumane treatment such as 'third degree' in custody, it is considered a direct violation of Supreme Court guidelines (such as the Arnesh Kumar vs. State of Bihar and D.K. Basu cases) and human rights.
On the other hand, in the eyes of law, no profession or position can guarantee freedom from crime. If any person or media organization faces serious allegations like tampering with videos, running fake news or blackmailing, then the police have every right to investigate it impartially.
At present, while on one hand the Kurukshetra Police is claiming to have digital evidence, on the other hand the bail granted by the court has given initial relief to the journalists' side. Now the ultimate truth of this matter—whether it was an act of suppressing the voice against the government or a game of blackmailing in the name of a fake sting—will be revealed to the country only through a court hearing and a transparent, impartial investigation.