Editor at Hindustan Times steps down after allegations of sexual misconduct

Prashant Jha's accuser has shared their conversation on social media

Politics Editor and Bureau Chief for Delhi of the Hindustan Times, Prashant Jha, stepped down from both his roles Monday night after allegations of sexual misconduct, reported Huffington Post India.

Jha has been accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a former employee of the paper. The woman concerned, Avantika Mehta, has posted a statement and screenshots of their conversation on social media.

I’m the ex-lawyer HT correspondent mentioned in @MasalaBai’s story. This thread includes photos of my conversation with prashant jha. you will notice I do everything and beyond to not piss him off while he says he wants to hit on me

— Avantika Mehta (@bitingfriends) October 6, 2018

She also writes that at the time she received the messages, she had recently left the organisation and so could not file an internal complaint.

The newspaper's Editor in Chief, R Sukumar emailed staff saying:

"Hi All,

Prashant Jha has stepped down as the Chief of Bureau and Political Editor of Hindustan Times with immediate effect.

The bureau will report to me for the time being."

Apparently, Jha spent the day he was named in meetings with Sukumar and the executive editor.



Several other journalists have also been named in what is being called India's #MeToo movement spreading across industries.

NDTV reported that Jha wrote in a letter to his editor, "There have been specific allegations against me - and my personal conduct - recently, which have raised moral questions about my conduct. In this backdrop, I believe it would be best for me to step down."