The Kurar police arrested five persons — including a reporter working for a tabloid and a news website employee — since Monday for circulating of a text that sought to spread hatred against a particul
The Kurar police arrested five persons — including a reporter working for a tabloid and a news website employee — since Monday for circulating of a text that sought to spread hatred against a particular community on a social media platform. The police is yet to zero in on the creator of the text or his or her motive behind circulating it.
According to the police, two accused were arrested on Monday while two others were arrested on Tuesday. The accused that were arrested on Monday were produced in court on Tuesday, where they were remanded in police custody till September 8. The accused who were arrested on Tuesday will be produced in court on Wednesday. Another accused was arrested on Tuesday evening. The arrested accused have been identified as Vijay Vanjara (21), a tabloid reporter; social activist Bhushan Jadhaw (27); news website employee Ishwar Ghusiya (43) and Atul Fadtare (25).
According to the police, the arrested accused have received and forwarded a message on WhatsApp, which was completely false and containing objectionable words against a religion. In the text it was mentioned that few had tried to disrupt the arrival of Ganpati statues on Sunday. Around 4 pm on Monday the message was forwarded in a reporter’s WhatsApp group and police, which was alerted about it, registered the case.
Commenting on the arrests Kiran Kumar Chavhan, DCP zone 12, said that one person was arrested from Chembur while two others were arrested from Borivali.
According to officers, as the message containing a language that could provoke riots among communities, sections of criminal conspiracy were added to the FIR.
An officer from Kurar police station said that the police might take action against five more people as investigation in the case is ongoing.
If one spreads a malicious message, he or she can be booked under Sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy of the IPC.
