Ranchi DC and Kanke CO Blocked Senior Journalist on Official Numbers and X Handle
Blocked for Complaining, Silenced for Seeking Justice : An Assault on Freedom of Expression?
Ranchi, Jharkhand (India News Reporter). In a shocking display of bureaucratic stonewalling, senior journalist Mukesh Kumar Mukesh Bhartiy, who has been fighting a protracted battle against land forgery in Ranchi, is now facing the full brunt of the system’s “silent treatment.” Kanke Circle Officer (CO) Amit Bhagat and Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manjunath Bhajantri have not only blocked the journalist’s mobile number and WhatsApp but have also barred him from the DC’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @DC_Ranchi. This comes merely for raising informed queries on a pressing public issue, raising serious questions about governmental accountability and a blatant violation of Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution – the right to freedom of speech and expression.
The Land Forgery Saga: A Timeline of Deception and Delay
Mukesh Bhartiy, Editor-in-Chief of Expert Media News, has been locked in a legal tussle over a 25-decimal agricultural plot (Khata No. 17, RS Plot No. 1335) in Mouza-Newari, Kanke, Ranchi, registered legitimately in his name, his wife Asha Kumari, and two others back in 2010. The family has enjoyed peaceful possession ever since. However, the plot took a sinister turn in 2022 when one Raj Shekhar allegedly forged documents – including incorrect plot numbers (1744/1746), identical signatures from a single individual, and fabricated payment dates – to illegally mutate 12 decimals into his name. Shockingly, the Jharbhoomi portal now issues receipts for a total of 37 decimals, an impossibility given the land’s physical boundaries.
The matter escalated to the Deputy Collector Land Reforms (DCLR) Court, which, in Case No. 396/2025, issued a crystal-clear interim order on December 2, 2025: Cancel the fraudulent mutation and direct the Kanke CO to verify documents and submit a report. Yet, 15 days later, CO Amit Bhagat has taken zero action, leaving the order in limbo.
On December 8, Mukesh personally submitted documents to the CO’s office, only to be met with evasion from revenue employee Ravindra Prasad, who curtly stated, “The CO has to do it; only he will.” An audio recording of this interaction, obtained by India News Reporter, captures the blatant foot-dragging, underscoring the systemic inertia plaguing Jharkhand’s revenue machinery.
The “Block-Out” Drama: From Phones to Public Platforms
The plot thickened on December 15 when Mukesh hand-delivered applications to DC Manjunath Bhajantri, Additional Collector (Revenue), DCLR, and the Commissioner, urging compliance with the court order. In retaliation – or so it appears – CO Amit Bhagat promptly blocked Mukesh’s mobile and WhatsApp contacts. Not to be outdone, DC Bhajantri followed suit on his official government-issued numbers.
“These are public resources meant for citizen redressal, and I am a senior journalist holding the system accountable. Blocking complaints is an insult to democracy,” Mukesh told India News Reporter in an exclusive interview.
The most egregious episode unfolded on X, the platform increasingly vital for public grievances in India. The @DC_Ranchi handle’s bio proudly proclaims: “Grievances can be tagged. Response normally w/in 24 hours.” Emboldened by this, Mukesh commented on the DC’s public posts about Janata Darbar (public grievance hearings), posing a pointed yet informational query: “When will action be taken in our case? Hands and feet are tied despite the DCLR order.”
The response? A swift block. “They unblocked me after two hours, only to block again. What’s this ‘block-unblock’ charade?” Mukesh questioned, highlighting the arbitrary nature of the digital censorship.
A quick scan of X activity reveals the handle’s active engagement with routine complaints – from road repairs to water shortages – but zero tolerance for this land rights issue. The account, boasting over 176,000 followers and verified status, positions itself as a beacon of transparency, yet this incident exposes a darker underbelly.
Legal Ramifications: Contempt, Forgery, and Digital Rights Under Siege
This isn’t just administrative apathy; it’s potentially criminal. The inaction flouts Section 2(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, by willfully disregarding a judicial directive. Under Jharkhand’s Mutation Manual Rule-11, dual mutations are illegal ab initio. The forgery itself invites charges under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 467 (forgery), alongside Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for abuse of official position.
On the blocking front, a senior advocate at the Jharkhand High Court, speaking anonymously to India News Reporter, asserted: “Blocking a citizen on official channels violates the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the Information Technology Act. This can be challenged in the High Court under Article 19(1)(a). In a similar 2023 case, the court mandated unblocking a government handle, affirming that public platforms cannot be weaponized for suppression.”
Jharkhand’s courts have a precedent: In X vs. State of Jharkhand (2023), the bench ruled that social media blocks by officials infringe on constitutional rights, especially when the bio invites public interaction.
Public Outrage: #JusticeForMukeshBhartiy Trends Amid Broader Distrust
The story has ignited a firestorm on social media, with #JusticeForMukeshBhartiy surging as a rallying cry. Users are venting: “Is the DC’s X handle for grievances or just blocking dissent? Where’s the transparency in the Hemant Soren government?” One viral post from Expert Media News – the very outlet Mukesh helms – amplified the narrative, garnering quick shares despite nascent traction.
This isn’t isolated. Jharkhand has been reeling from a spate of land scams, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raiding properties in a ₹59 lakh cash seizure tied to a Ranchi land fraud in September 2025. Broader probes, including a ₹100 crore financial fraud involving fake GST claims, underscore the rot in land records. Netizens fear: “Will the system reform, or rot further?”
India News Reporter reached out to DC Manjunath Bhajantri and CO Amit Bhagat for comment; both remained unresponsive. The Jharkhand Revenue Department’s silence speaks volumes.
What’s Next? High Court Showdown Looms
Mukesh is gearing up for a Writ Petition under Article 226 in the Jharkhand High Court, seeking enforcement of the DCLR order, unblocking across platforms, and exemplary costs against the errant officials. “As a journalist and citizen, demanding justice is my right – not a privilege to be blocked,” he affirmed.
This case transcends one man’s land; it’s a litmus test for Jharkhand’s commitment to rule of law in the digital age. Will Ranchi’s guardians of justice rise to the occasion, or will the blocks persist as metaphors for a clogged system? India News Reporter will monitor developments closely.
