New Delhi, January 5, 2026: Saurabh Dwivedi's dramatic resignation from Lallantop came just a couple of days after his final broadcast blasted the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh government for ignoring polluted water warnings that killed 15 in Indore. He also called out BCCI hypocrisy in scapegoating Shah Rukh Khan's KKR over a Bangladeshi player's IPL exit amid communal tensions, sparing top officials.
The senior journalist who was the founding editor of The Lallantop and editor of India Today Hindi, has stepped down from the India Today Group, ending a 12-year journey that shaped Hindi digital journalism. He announced his departure on X (formerly Twitter) with a poetic couplet from Urdu poet Nasir Kazmi, expressing gratitude for the identity, lessons, and courage gained at Lallantop while hinting at introspection, a break, and a new journey ahead.
Fallout Theories
Timing fuels speculation of pressure from BJP circles, as Dwivedi's unfiltered critique exposed 18 months of negligence by senior BJP leaders like Kailash Vijayvargiya and questioned selective targeting of Khan possibly due to his faith. No official link confirmed, but social media erupts with "silenced voice" claims.
Speculation Mounts: Dwivedi's Exit Linked to Final Critical Broadcast
Saurabh Dwivedi hosted his last Lallantop show on January 2, 2026, sharply criticizing the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government's handling of the Indore contaminated water crisis that killed at least 15 residents in Bhagirathpura, exposing 18 months of prior warnings ignored by officials and leaders including Kailash Vijayvargiya. In the same episode of The Lallantop Show (Episode 1917), he questioned why BCCI top officials faced no scrutiny over directing Shah Rukh Khan's KKR to drop Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 amid India-Bangladesh tensions, implying selective blame on Khan possibly due to his faith. Just two days later, his resignation after 12 years has fuelled suspicions of fallout from these anti-establishment remarks against the Madhya Pradesh and central governments.
Dwivedi joined as Features Editor at aajtak.in and built Lallantop into a youth-centric platform known for storytelling, candid interviews with politicians and celebrities, and heart-to-heart discussions targeting Hindi-speaking audiences in India's heartland. The official YouTube channel of The Lallantop has close to 35 million subscribers as on January 5, 2025.
Crisis Background
The Indore tragedy stemmed from sewage leaking into drinking water supplies, with victims reporting foul smells since October 2024 and government data confirming complaints, yet no action until deaths mounted, prompting High Court intervention and municipal commissioner removal. Dwivedi highlighted transparency gaps in death tolls (official 4-9 vs. 15 reported) and demanded accountability from state leaders.
IPL Controversy Angle
BCCI instructed KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman post-auction amid backlash over Hindu targeting in Bangladesh, sparking debates on whether criticism targeted Khan unfairly while sparing officials; Dwivedi raised this in his broadcast amid boycott calls. No direct confirmation links his comments to the exit, but timing raises eyebrows given Lallantop's independent voice.
Link to Saurabh Dwivedi’s last show published before his resignation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eMlQqwqdm4
India Today’s Reaction
India Today praised Dwivedi's tenure without mentioning any content friction even as social media is abuzz with theories of pressure over the show's critiques.
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