Circulating Mischievous Rumours on Social Media Will be Punishable – Chandra Sekhar

Circulating Mischievous Rumours on Social Media Will be Punishable under the Law – Chandra Sekhar

Mangaluru: The police commissioner has appealed the people not to post any comment which is mischievous in nature or spread rumours, post messages with an intent to creating public disturbance through WhatsApp or other social media. We have already filed 2 cases and initiated action against three persons. From now on we will do it regularly by filing cases Under section 505.

The section 505 says the statements conducing to public mischief.—2[
(1) ] Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report,—

(a) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, any offi­cer, soldier, 3[sailor or airman] in the Army, 4[Navy or Air Force] 5[of India] to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such; or

(b) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility; or

(c) with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to 6[three years], or with fine, or with both. 7[(2) Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.—Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement or report containing rumour or alarming news with intent to create or promote, or which is likely to create or promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different reli­gious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communi­ties, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Nowadays we are seeing false messages flowing on WhatsApp, which will be taken seriously and cases will be filed against those who send such messages. Here the people are very tolerant and they are very patient. If anyone sends such messages people can file a case and the police will take action. We are trying to stop false rumours because we do not want any innocent to be punished.

We need to first educate the people about the section. Rumours will create disturbance in the society which can be avoided by educating the people. If sends such messages on WhatsApp or social media people can inform the police, he added.