In a recent development, the Karnataka Police made headlines as they apprehended a man from Goa, identified as BhikuMhatre on social media platforms, in connection with an alleged defamatory post targeting the Congress party.
According to media reports, BhikuMhatre’s social media handle, @MumbaichaDon, was reportedly the source of the contentious post, which accused the Congress of attempting to redistribute wealth from Hindus to Muslims, claiming the party harbored animosity towards Hindus. Notably, similar allegations have been echoed by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The controversial post, although now deleted, had garnered attention last month, prompting a Bengaluru resident and Congress worker to lodge a formal complaint with the cybercrime police on April 29.
Subsequently, the Karnataka Police initiated legal proceedings against BhikuMhatre under section 153(a) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc., and section 66(c) of the Information Technology Act, concerning identity theft and electronic fraud.
Prior to his arrest, BhikuMhatre shared a notice from X, the platform where the contentious post was made, indicating the receipt of a court order from the magistrate of Bengaluru City regarding his X account ‘@MumbaichaDon’. The notice advised BhikuMhatre to seek legal counsel, as X was obligated to furnish information related to his account as per the court directive.
The incident underscores the growing scrutiny and legal ramifications surrounding social media posts that propagate hate speech or incite communal tensions. It also highlights the responsibility of platforms like X in ensuring compliance with legal procedures and safeguarding against misuse of their services for spreading misinformation or incendiary content.
As the case unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the evolving landscape of digital communication and the need for users to exercise caution and responsibility while expressing opinions online, while also emphasizing the role of law enforcement agencies in upholding the rule of law in the digital sphere.
