Desk Correspondent , Jaipur – The Rajasthan Police have registered an FIR against freelance journalist Mahesh Jhalani for allegedly posting defamatory content on social media targeting the State’s Chief Secretary, V Srinivas. The legal action, initiated on May 8 at the Ashok Nagar police station, follows a directive from the state Home Department. Jhalani is accused of using his Facebook platform to undermine the image of the state government and senior bureaucracy through a post dated April 26.

The complaint alleges that Jhalani’s post contained "objectionable and misleading" remarks, claiming the state administration had become "paralysed" under the current leadership. The journalist reportedly questioned the Chief Secretary’s field experience and argued that administrative decisions were confined to files rather than ground reality. Consequently, the case was registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.

In a recent development, Jhalani expressed regret over his "inappropriate tone," attributing the post to a moment of "anger and agitation." He met with Chief Secretary V Srinivas to offer a personal apology, which he claimed was accepted with "grace." Despite this apology, the police investigation remains active. Investigating officer Motilal Sharma is currently overseeing the probe to determine if further legal proceedings are required regarding the digital content.