Bengaluru woman booked for depicting UP CM Adityanath in 'poor light'

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Police on Tuesday lodged a criminal case against a woman for making "objectionable posts" on her Facebook page which allegedly depicted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in "poor light."

An FIR was filed against the woman on complaint of BJP Yuva Morcha members, said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) S Ravi.

"The BJP Yuva Morcha members filed a complaint against Prabha N Belavangala for uploading objectionable posts on her Facebook page, depicting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister in a poor light," Ravi toldPTI.

In its complaint, the BJP Yuva Morcha has accused the woman of posting "obscene, morphed and tampered" images, purported to be of UP CM Adityanath, on the social media site, he said.

He said the FIR has been filed under IPC sections pertaining to defamation, promoting enmity on grounds of religion, conducing mischief besides offences under the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Bengaluru city BJP Yuva Morcha president Sapthagiri Gowda claimed the images prima facie appear to be morphed and digitally tampered, and also "depicted Adityanath in a very poor light and is highly defamatory in nature."

He also alleged that Prabha has acted knowing fully well that it would cause the breach of public peace and also argued that the Facebook posts violate several penal provisions.

The FIR has been lodged under section 67 of the IT Act, and sections 153A, 292A, 499, 500 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Section 153A relates to promoting enmity between two groups on grounds of religion, race, place or birth, residence or language and 292A to printing of grossly indecent or scurrilous matter.

IPC Section 499 pertains to defamation and 500 to punishment for defamation, while 505 is about "statement conducing to public mischief."

Gowda alleged that Prabha is a "habitual mischief and rumour monger" and had even earlier tried to create disharmony in society by publishing inflammatory content on Facebook.

"FIRs had also been lodged against her earlier as well, for similar offences," Gowda claimed.