Journalists Web of Deceit: How Vijay Guptas Rise to Power Was Built on Lies

Vijay Gupta, a 49-year-old founder-editor of a local English daily in Jammu and Kashmir, had long been a familiar face among the region's political elite.

His proximity to power was not just a coincidence; it was a deliberate move that would later prove to be a fatal flaw.

As Gupta rubbed shoulders with ministers and senior bureaucrats, he cultivated an image of himself as a high-ranking government official. But behind the scenes, his true intentions were far from altruistic.

The probe agency alleges that Gupta undertook 26 foreign trips between 2016 and 2022, many of which coincided with the Prime Minister's overseas visits. These trips were not just for sightseeing; they were an attempt to create a false narrative about his influence and connections.

Gupta also circulated pictures of himself with senior government officials, further solidifying his fake persona. The evidence against him is mounting, with cash deposits totaling Rs 4.06 crore in his bank accounts being the focal point of the investigation.

The ED claims that these deposits are proceeds of crime under the anti-money laundering law, and Gupta's actions were a clear attempt to launder money through his newspaper.

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But Gupta's rise to power was not always smooth sailing. Born into a middle-class family in Jammu's Sarwal area, he dropped out of school and started a small transformer assembly business with the help of his father, a retired BSNL employee.

However, Gupta's business ventures were not without controversy. People who knew him claimed that he was introverted as a child and struggled to repay loans to friends and acquaintances. In some cases, he even faced physical altercations when people came to collect their money.

Gupta's transformation from a struggling entrepreneur to a powerful journalist was nothing short of remarkable. But behind the scenes, his actions were driven

On New Year's Eve in 2019, a photo appeared on his Facebook page showing him with a senior Army officer, congratulating him on his new appointment. The photograph was just one of many that Gupta used to project an image of himself as a high-ranking government official.

His newspaper's April 20, 2018, edition carried a photograph of Gupta shaking hands with a senior government official during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London. These photographs were not just harmless social media posts; they were part of a carefully crafted persona that Gupta used to manipulate others and further his own interests.

But Gupta's story is one of deception and lies. His rise to power was built on a foundation of false credentials, and his actions have left a trail of destruction in their wake. As the investigation into his alleged money laundering continues, one thing is clear: Vijay Gupta's web of deceit will not be easily unraveled.