A journalist who conducted a sting operation against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat's personal secretary today alleged that he was being harassed by state authorities and there was threat to his life.
Ashok Pandey alleged that a false case was registered against him after the CD of the sting operation was released during a BJP press conference here last month.
The state government on August 4 demolished Pandey's Dehradun residence - an action he claimed was taken without serving him prior notice.
"According to my sources, goons from Western Uttar Pradesh have been hired to kill me," Pandey told reporters here.
Asked if he had approached police about the "threat", Pandey replied in the negative. He said he has written to Governor K K Paul and National Human Rights Commission "seeking protection".
"I have approached journalist associations in Delhi to help me reach (Home Minister Rajnath) Singh or (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi for protection. I will try to meet (Congress President) Soniaji too," he said.
The sting operation had allegedly shown Rawat's personal secretary Mohammad Shahid, a senior IAS officer from Gujarat cadre, negotiating for bribe for iquor licenses. Shahid was removed from the post after the sting came to light.
