Indore Police file FIR against Congress leaders’ Twitter handlers for sharing alleged corruption claims, following BJP complaint — the authenticity of claims being probed.
The Indore Police have taken action against the alleged spread of misinformation on social media, registering an FIR against the “handlers” of prominent Congress leaders’ Twitter accounts. The FIR targets the ‘X’ accounts associated with senior Congress figures including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kamal Nath, and Arun Yadav. The complaint was lodged by Nimesh Pathak, the convener of the legal cell of the local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) branch, accusing the Congress leaders of circulating a fabricated letter claiming rampant corruption in the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government.
The complaint pertains to a purported letter attributed to Gyanendra Awasthi, which was shared on social media platforms. The letter alleged that contractors in the state were being coerced to pay a hefty 50% commission. Following the complaint, an FIR was registered at the Sanyogitaganj police station, based on the Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating) and 469 (forgery with intent to harm reputation).
The accused Congress leaders, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kamal Nath, and Arun Yadav, used their Twitter accounts to echo the claims made in the alleged fake letter. They accused the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of engaging in severe corruption practices. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra claimed in her tweet that a union of contractors had written to the Chief Justice of the High Court, highlighting the 50% commission issue. She compared this to the previously alleged 40% commission government in Karnataka and stated that the BJP in Madhya Pradesh had exceeded its own “corruption record.”
In response, the state’s BJP leaders refuted these allegations, terming them baseless and politically motivated. Home Minister Narottam Mishra challenged Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to provide evidence to substantiate her accusations. He cautioned that without evidence, legal actions could be pursued against her. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan condemned the opposition party for spreading falsehoods and misinformation.
The police are currently investigating the authenticity of the Twitter accounts associated with the Congress leaders. The case has sparked debates over the use of social media for political communication and the responsibility of public figures to ensure accuracy in their statements.
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