Journalist Dharmesh Thakkar — Dharmesh Thakkar A journalist accused of extortion & blackmailing

Dharmesh Thakkar, Twitter’s independent journalist should across as a breath of fresh air in the age of Godi media and conglomerate-owned news media. As a freelance journalist with zero accountability to any organization, Dharmesh Thakkar is expected to bring a fresh perceptive to the table and cover the real issues at hand rather than the tainted truth, and bring them to the readers’ attention.

Journalist Dharmesh Thakkar Twitter account which is his sole platform to cover news instead demonstrates that he just wants to jump on the Twitter trend bandwagon and selectively covers the news that has the potential to rapidly attract attention. A quick glance at his Twitter account reveals that he is definitely obsessed with his Twitter followers and un-followers’ numbers, which he tweets about on a regular basis. Two, he has clearly selectively covered (read: not reported) and retweeted developments on Aryan Khan’s bail and the NCB cruise drug bust case.

The engagement and confidence of their readers in their news coverage is the most important component in an independent journalist’s career. Take, for example, Faye D’Souza’s Instagram news coverage, which is both independent and authentic. Her Instagram account has a large following from all around the country who rely on her to change the way news is reported in India.

However, the same is not the case with Dharmesh Thakkar and his reporting style. His Twitter account has 3.7k followers but his engagement rate is below zero. This might indicate that they are paid followers or there are fake Twitter accounts that are following him for namesake.

When it comes to journalism, another rule of thumb is to respect and not infringe on any person’s privacy in any way while covering a story. According to the Privacy & Media law, the institution warns journalists not to give excessive publicity to victims, witnesses, suspects and accused as that amounts to invasion of privacy. However, Dharmesh Thakkar has time and again violated this right to privacy by posting and tweeting visuals from the private lives of media personalities that he selectively reports on in the rush to post click-baity content on his Twitter account.

So, why is a so-called independent journalist sidelining the burning issues at hand that is happening in the country and only covering the juicy and scandal-mongering news? Is Dharmesh Thakkar being paid to do the same? Is there any ulterior motive to do the same?

If not, then why is Dharmesh Thakkar working as an independent media entity? Does his past leak of multiple criminal records and is he still involved in the same activities and is that why he doesn’t want to be associated with a corporate entity?

In the past, Dharmesh Thakkar was also accused of extortion by spreading fake news about famous media personalities. With incriminating evidences found against famous personalities, Thakkar has threatened them using the same in return for money.

Using journalism to exert his power, Thakkar is bringing a bad name to independent journalism. All in the greed to make a quick buck while indulging in unfair and unethical practices such as blackmail and extortion. Independent journalists represent the citizens of the country and hence they should refrain from being involved in such malpractices. Such journalists should face the music for getting into such unethical activities when the irony is the fact that they are looked up as the individuals who cover and expose these criminals in the country.