Bhubaneswar, Sep 4 (PTI) An Odisha-based web portal's editor and its reporter were arrested from the state capital for allegedly publishing obscene photos of noted sprinter Dutee Chand and attempting extortion, police said.

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The online news channel's editor was initially detained for interrogation on Friday and later apprehended, while one of its reporters was also taken into custody, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) US Dash said.

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"The reporter of the web portal claimed that he is no longer associated with the platform. We are verifying his statement," he said.

The DCP of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate said a four-member special team has been constituted to probe into the allegations made by the ace sprinter and Olympian.

A case was registered under various sections of IPC, the officer said.

"False and obscene portrayal of me on social media and the web portal have tarnished my image which ultimately impacted my performance in the Olympics. I do not know what harm I have done to these people," Chand, who too recorded her statement with the police, had said.

The athlete had also accused an RTI activist of mental harassment and intimidation.

Dutee also moved a court in Bhubaneswar and filed a defamation case against the three accused persons.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)