School books case: Court sends three publishers to 10-day remand

Jammu, Jul 13: A court in Jammu has remanded three publishers to 10 days’ custody in connection with the ongoing investigation into the controversial school books case being probed by the Counter-Intelligence (CIK), a day after they were arrested for their alleged role in publishing and distributing books containing “highly inappropriate” content.
The accused, who were produced before the court through virtual mode, have been identified as Inderpaul Singh of Oberoi Book Service, Jammu, and Amardeep Singh and Girish Arora associated with Noida-based Dominant Publishers. The investigating agency had arrested the trio following coordinated operations in Jammu and Delhi as part of its expanding probe into the publication and circulation of the controversial books.
The case pertains to two books supplied to government school libraries under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, which allegedly contained material related to separatism and content considered capable of disturbing public order. Following the controversy, the Jammu and Kashmir Government ordered the immediate withdrawal of the books from school libraries, suspended eight School Education Department officials, disengaged a contractual employee, blacklisted the authors and publishers, and ordered a high-level inquiry into the selection process.
Counter Intelligence had earlier registered an FIR under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), alleging criminal conspiracy, endangering the sovereignty and integrity of India, promoting enmity and circulating objectionable material. Raids were subsequently carried out at the premises of the publishers, leading to the arrests.
Investigators are examining the role of the publishers in printing and distributing the books, while further arrests have not been ruled out as the investigation progresses. [KNT]