In a recent development, the Karnataka police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Amit Malviya, the BJP IT Cell chief, for allegedly promoting enmity within groups and instigating people through a video mocking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on social media. The case was filed following a complaint lodged by Ramesh Babu, a member of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
The video, shared by Malviya on Twitter, portrayed an animated representation allegedly ridiculing Rahul Gandhi and presenting the Congress party in a negative light. The FIR mentions that Malviya accompanied the video with captions that described Rahul Gandhi as “dangerous” and accused certain individuals of pulling his strings to defame India overseas.
Amit Malviya has been booked under sections 153(A), 120(B), 505(2), and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These sections pertain to promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and engaging in acts prejudicial to maintaining harmony, as well as conspiracy.
Following the registration of the FIR, Malviya reposted the same tweet with a caption in Hindi, further fueling the controversy. However, the BJP IT Cell chief and his supporters argue that the FIR is politically motivated and an attempt to stifle free speech.
Tejasvi Surya, the Member of Parliament representing Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency, took to Twitter to express his opinion on the matter. He stated that the FIR against Amit Malviya is politically motivated and questioned whether Rahul Gandhi should be considered as an individual, a group, or a class.
Meanwhile, Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s IT-BT Minister, accompanied Ramesh Babu when the complaint was filed. Kharge criticized the BJP, accusing the party of opposing the law and the Constitution whenever they face legal consequences.
The case has sparked a political debate, with the Congress party arguing that fake news needs to be curbed, while the BJP claims that it is an infringement on freedom of expression. The legal battle is expected to unfold as the accused challenges the charges in court.
Sources By Agencies
