Andhra Pradesh Police has arrested 49 people, and cases have been registered 147, besides issuing 680 show cause notices to social media activists and YSR Congress Party supporters. These people have been arrested for uploading defamatory content against the leaders’ families from the TDP helmed by the current CM Chandrababu Naidu. The arrests and legal actions are part of a huge campaign in efforts to control internet criticisms and cyberbullying.
A TDP spokesperson claimed that an operation was launched because the persons concerned ‘went too far’ in their criticism and invective against the state government and TDP leaders. Most of the accused have been prosecuted under different sections of the Information Technology Act for image forging and distributing scandalous information.
Further, cases have been filed under a section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with offenses like promoting enmity between different groups, public mischief, criminal conspiracy, and defamation.
The main targets of the posts from different districts, according to the police, included state ministers, their wives and daughters, and senior politicians. Alleged targets of the defamatory content included the State Home Minister Anitha, Nara Bhuvaneshwari, the wife of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, the Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan’s daughters, Vasundhara wife of TDP MLA cum actor Balakrishna, Congress Party president YS Sharmila and her mother YS Vijayamma.
A startling disclosure was made by Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen. He disclosed that Ravinder Reddy, a co-convener of the YSRCP, was in charge of the party’s social media division. The petitioner maintained that Reddy has been uploading defamatory material that has reportedly evoked tribal tensions among various groups. From the police, the following was learned about the man: Reddy controlled several YouTube accounts that posted obscene and provocative content to women leaders, thus socially harmonizing the society.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates