Officials shared that “any future attempts to spread misleading information or disrupt societal harmony will be met with stringent legal consequences….reports Asian Lite News
In light of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, authorities have intensified social media monitoring to safeguard public peace and ensure citizens’ safety.
The Cyber Crime Social Media Monitoring Cell in Gujarat, operating under the guidance of the Crime Branch and Cyber Crime Branch, remains vigilant on platforms like Facebook, officials shared on Tuesday.
The Ahmedabad Police’s Cyber Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested two individuals who had circulated a manipulated video of Home Minister Amit Shah on Facebook.
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Dr. Lavina Sinha, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Cyber Crime, announced that the suspects, identified as Satish Vansola of Palanpur and Rahul Bhai Bariya of Limakheda, Dahod, were detained for their involvement in spreading the doctored footage.
Both are linked to political parties and allegedly shared the video without confirming its authenticity.
On April 27 an incident involving disseminating a doctored video aimed at sowing discord was promptly addressed.
The video, falsely titled ‘BEF INDIA TU SAUDI ARAB EXPORT,’ depicted cow containers and was posted to incite communal unrest and tarnish reputations.
The Cyber Crime cell has registered a case against the individual responsible for this inflammatory content, highlighting the government’s commitment to maintaining harmony and legality during the election period.
Officials shared that “any future attempts to spread misleading information or disrupt societal harmony will be met with stringent legal consequences. This measure is a part of a broader strategy to prevent the misuse of digital platforms and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Home Minister’s doctored video
The investigators are yet to receive any response from social media giants X (formerly Twitter) and Meta in connection with a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a source in the Delhi Police’s Special Cell told IANS on Tuesday.
Three persons have been arrested by the police for circulating the fake video so far, two in Gujarat and one in Assam.
“We are trying to trace the origin of the doctored video. A reply from the social media giants is of utmost importance in the case. X, meanwhile, has deleted all the morphed videos from its platform,” said a senior Delhi Police officer privy to the probe.
After registering an FIR, the Special Cell’s IFSO unit, which has been tasked to crack the case, sent a letter to the X seeking details.
Summonses have been issued under Sections 91 and 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), calling individuals to participate in the probe and provide relevant documents and electronic devices as evidence.
Some sections invoked by the police in the FIR classify the offence as non-bailable.
Over 16 persons, including political leaders, from seven states have been summoned by the Delhi Police in connection with the case.
The Special Cell has also sent teams to Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh as a part of the probe.
On Monday, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy along with four Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) members — Shiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne, and Naveen Pettem — were summoned to appear before the Delhi Police on May 1.
The move followed after the Delhi Police on Sunday registered an FIR after two complaints were received by the police, one from the BJP and another from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The controversy erupted after a doctored video surfaced on social media showing Home Minister Amit Shah making statements suggesting the BJP’s intention to annul the reservation provisions for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
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