‘Pagal hai kya tu?’: ANI reporter abused after asking Jacqueline Fernandez for comment?

Upsetting scenes played out outside the Economic Offences Wing office in Delhi today when actor Jacqueline Fernandez arrived for questioning in connection with the Sukesh Chandrashekhar case.

ANI filmed Fernandez walking into the building. An ANI reporter, channelling his inner Republic TV journalist, shouted, “Jackie, can you say something? Jackie, ANI is asking you!”

This didn’t inspire Fernandez to turn and address the camera. However, the ANI reporter was shouted down, with someone else saying in Hindi, “Chutiya hai? Pagal hai kya tu?” Are you mad?

It is not clear who said this. But the entire exchange was captured on video, with ANI warning viewers of “abusive language”.

ANI editor Smita Prakash valiantly defended her reporter and said she would not have the video deleted despite the c-word. She said that ANI had, after all, even questioned heads of state.

But it’s worth remembering that last April, ANI did “retract” a video of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath lashing out and calling someone a “chutiya”. If you want a rundown on the meaning of such unparliamentary language, Newslaundry’s Atul Chaurasia has you covered with this video.

As for why Fernandez was summoned for questioning, it dates back to a relationship she had with one Shekhar Ratna Vela, who had introduced himself to the actor as the nephew of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. During the course of their interaction, he gifted Fernandez a Persian cat, a horse, diamond jewellery, and trips on private jets.

Except Vela turned out to be a conman called Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Read our report to find out how he also became a king in Tihar jail.