VIJAYAWADA: AP Crime Investigation Department (CID) authorities on Tuesday booked criminal cases against five social media activists of Telugu Desam Party for allegedly spreading false information about welfare schemes being implemented by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
The cases, in particular, follow a message that Jagan government is withdrawing two major welfare schemes – Amma Vodi and Vahana Mitra. These posts have gone viral, upsetting beneficiaries.
Following a prompt complaint from state government, CID police at Mangalagiri booked cases against the five, who shared the fake post and made it viral, under Section 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code. All of them have been asked to appear before the CID police for questioning in two batches – Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Three persons, who received notices, attended the inquiry on Tuesday at the CID office.
CID officials disclosed that on May 30 (Monday), a fake press note had been wrongfully issued with official emblem of Government of Andhra Pradesh, which also contained the national emblem of Government of India. The press note had been titled “Government of Andhra Pradesh Amaravati” and was circulated extensively.
The fake notice, originally in Telugu, read as follows in English: “Jagananna Amma Vodi and Vahana Mitra, two welfare schemes for year 2022, have been cancelled due to financial constraints in Andhra Pradesh. So, during 2022, Amma Vodi and Mitra will no longer be available to any of the eligible beneficiaries. Issued by Andhra Pradesh Department of Information Technology and Broadcasting”.
Officials disclosed that as this amounts to forgery involving the state emblem and leads to panic within public, an FIR No 4/22 of Cyber Crime Police Station, CID, Mangalagiri, had been registered on Monday, May 30, under Section 7 of State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005; Section 3 of Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950; Sections 66C of the IT Act, 2000; and Section 505(1), 464, 465, 466, 469, 471, 474 and 500 of IPC.
Investigations under these sections have already been launched and accused questioned.
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