FIR registered against comedian over morphed image of Rahul Gandhi on sanitary pad
Hyderabad, Jul 07 (PTI): An FIR has been registered here against comedian Ratan Ranjan and others for allegedly creating and circulating a morphed image of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on a sanitary pad, police said on Monday.
Telangana Youth Congress president Jakkidi Shiva Charan Reddy, in a complaint lodged with police, accused Ranjan and others of spreading false and malicious information against Gandhi through social media posts and transmitting obscene material by targeting women.
According to the complainant, Ranjan posted a morphed image of Gandhi and placed it inside a sanitary pad. He further accused Ranjan of outraging the modesty of women across India and not only in Bihar by publishing/transmitting obscene material in electronic form and trivialised the issue of women's health.
The All India Mahila Congress had recently launched a drive to distribute sanitary pads to poor women in Bihar aimed at spreading awareness about hygiene to ensure they lead a healthy life, he said.
The post was re-tweeted by some others, the complainant said.
Reddy sought legal action against the individuals for spreading false information and morphed photos of Gandhi and also for exhibiting and disseminating obscene material and outraging the modesty of women.
Based on the complaint, the case was registered against Ranjan and others under relevant sections of BNS and IT Act on July 6, a police official at Begum Bazar Police Station said.
Further investigation is on.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rain might have washed it away: Meghalaya minister after 4,000 tonnes of coal go missing
Shillong (PTI): As the Meghalaya High Court pulled up the state government over the disappearance of over 4,000 tonnes of coal, a minister on Monday claimed that heavy rain in the state might have washed it away.
The high court has directed the state government to take action against officials under whose watch the coal went missing.
Speaking to reporters, Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla said, "Meghalaya receives the highest rainfall. You never know... because of rain, the coal might have swept away. Chances are very high."
The high court had on July 25 pulled up the state government over the vanishing of coal from Rajaju and Diengngan villages and instructed it to trace those responsible for lifting the coal illegally.
The minister, however, clarified that he was not trying to justify the disappearance, and admitted there was no conclusive evidence yet to determine whether the loss was due to natural causes or any illegal activity. "I cannot blame just the rain. It could be or it could not be. I really don't have any kind of details," he said.
He asserted that any activity related to coal mining or transportation must be done in accordance with the law and that authorities must ensure illegal practices are curbed.
On allegations of ongoing illegal coal mining and transport in the state, Shylla said concrete evidence was needed to establish such claims and that multiple departments were responsible for monitoring such activities.
"But I believe that our people, if it is for survival, might do it illegally... otherwise nobody wants to do anything that can harm the state," he said.
He expressed optimism that people would abide by the law, especially after the government's announcement of scientific mining.
"We all are happy to welcome it, and we want to see the light of day with this. I believe our people will not do anything that gives the court or law a chance to point fingers at us," he added.
The ban on coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya was imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014, citing rampant unregulated and unsafe mining practices, especially the controversial 'rat-hole' mining technique prevalent in the state.
The tribunal's order came in the wake of mounting concerns over environmental degradation, water contamination, and frequent fatalities in the hazardous mines, particularly in East Jaintia Hills.
On a separate note, the minister also responded to complaints over the dust and debris caused by the ongoing construction along National Highway 6 in East Jaintia Hills, saying, "I appreciate this government for the initiative. For now, it is difficult, but once everything is completed, we will enjoy the benefits."
