Police register case over fake note by Karnataka CM circulating on social media
Bengaluru (PTI): Police on Friday registered a case against an "unknown person" following a complaint from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's office over a fake note circulating on social media, which falsely claimed that a district health and family welfare officer in Mandya had been posted as deputy commissioner of excise in Mysuru.
Seeking action against those responsible, the CMO alleged that the act was carried out with malicious intent to bring disrepute to the chief minister and the government.
Siddaramaiah later posted on 'X', saying, "It is a condemnable and very serious crime that some miscreants have created a fake note from my office and circulated it on social media."
Based on the complaint, a case was registered at the Vidhana Soudha police station under Sections 336(3) and 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to forgery, and Section 340(2), regarding forged documents or electronic records and their use as genuine.
In the complaint, Joint Secretary to the Chief Minister (Administration) Arun Furtado stated that a note claiming Dr K Mohan, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, Mandya district, had been posted as Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Mysuru Rural, was being circulated on social media and in certain sections of the media.
The complaint said the note carried no official number or date, had not been registered in the e-office of the chief minister’s secretariat, and had not been forwarded to any department.
No transfer or posting order had been issued based on it.
"Since it has been found that such an act was committed with the malicious intention of bringing a bad name to the chief minister and the government, I am directed to request you to conduct a proper investigation in this regard and identify and take immediate legal action against the culprits," the officer said in the complaint.
Earlier in the day, senior BJP MLA Sunil Kumar cited the fake note circulating on social media to target the government, alleging that the purported transfer was a "classic example" of Siddaramaiah’s administration having "lost track."
Pointing out that officials at his office have filed a complaint and that the police will find the culprits and take legal action, the CM wrote on 'X', "Social media users should be careful before believing and sharing such fake news. In today's Photoshop/AI era, sharing WhatsApp information without verifying its authenticity is also a crime."
"We are open to positive criticism but do not tolerate the spread of false news," the CM added.
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PM Modi to address the nation tonight at 8.30 PM
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tonight at 8.30 PM, a day after a bill to implement women's reservation in legislatures was defeated in the Lok Sabha.
"The Prime Minister will address the nation at 8.30 PM (April 18, Saturday)," an official said.
Modi is expected to delve into the issue of implementation of women's quota and the happenings in Parliament, where opposition parties on Friday voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill.
Under the Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased up to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. Seats were also to be increased in state and UT assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
A two-thirds majority was required for the passage of the crucial bill but the ruling BJP-led alliance could not muster the numbers.
During polling on the bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday night, 298 members voted in its support, while 230 MPs voted against it.
Out of 528 members who voted, the bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
