Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, a journalist for the independent news websiteCross Currents and deputy secretary general of the Gauhati Press Club, has been arrested, held in custody and prosecuted after trying to cover a case of bank fraud. The ordeal started on 25 March, when the journalist was covering a protest against alleged embezzlement and illegal recruitment at the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank in Guwahati, a city in Assam. The bank isrun by influential politicians, including a member of parliament and the chief minister of Assam, who are members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Dilwar Hussain Mozumder asked for an interview with the bank's CEO, Dambaru Saikia, who invited the reporter to his office. As he was leaving the bank, the journalist received a call from the Panbazar police station asking him to come in. Once at the police station, he was taken into custody and officially arrested later that evening, accused of having made offensive remarks about a security guard by mentioning his caste. He was granted bail the following day, but remained in custody for an additional night while the procedure was finalised. Even before his release on 27 March, the journalist was placed under arrest yet again following a second complaint filed by the bank's managing director, accusing him of trespassing and attempting to steal documents. He was not released until 29 March, after obtaining bail for a second time.