Senior journalist Vinod Verma was on Friday arrested from Ghaziabad's Indirapuram on charges of extortion and blackmailing.
A case of blackmail and extortion has been registered against the scribe at Pandri police station in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, Senior Superintendent of Police HN Singh said.
The Chhattisgarh Police will produce the scribe in a court later in the day, the SSP added.
The former BBC journalist was reportedly planning sting against a senior minister in the Chhattisgarh government. Sources said Verma was trying to extort money from him.
Although initial reports suggested that it was a joint operation by the police of both states, the Uttar Pradesh Police clarified that it had "nothing to do with it".
Meanwhile, police have also seized several CDs, pen drives and some documents from his residence.
The veteran journalist, who is also a member of Editors Guild of India, has worked for channels like BBC and Amar Ujala.
AAP leader and former journalist Ashutosh termed the development an "attack on the press". "Vinod Verma Ex BBC n Amar Ujala Digital Editor has been picked up most mysteriously by UP N Chhatttisgarh Police 3.30am. Attack on press?", Ashutosh tweeted.
