Mysuru: Speaking to reporters, Manjunath of ‘Benki TV’ alleged that Police personnel at the station had invited him to record the Inspector’s briefing and later pressured him to delete the footage after the video triggered a political controversy.

Rejecting the allegation that he had tampered with the video, Manjunath said he had preserved the original recording.

“I have the unedited, raw footage of the Inspector’s statement. I went to the Police station as I was called by Cop Yashavantha and many times in the past I had been there to shoot many videos. There were many people shooting videos from various angles. Why am I being targeted?” he questioned.

“What is there to distort here? The Inspector himself very seriously said the controversial words in the video. So how can it be called distortion? What is there in that distortion?” he asked.

Manjunath said ‘Benki TV’ had, over the years, also reported on the Inspector’s programmes and work in the taluk. “For many years, especially over the past year, we have highlighted many of the Inspector’s good programmes and efficient work to the people of the taluk, earning appreciation. We have also reported on his style of  functioning,” he said.

Manjunath urged opposition leaders R. Ashoka and former MP Prathap Simha to intervene and ensure fair treatment for local journalists.