Unidentified person booked for rumour about Sumitra Mahajan's death
Indore, Apr 23: Police here registered an offence on Friday against an unidentified person for spreading rumours on social media about the death of former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, an official said.
Local BJP leader and former corporator Sudhir Dedge lodged a complaint, on the basis of which a case was filed against an unidentified person under IPC section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), Sarafa police station inspector Sunil Sharma told PTI.
Along with his written complaint, Dedge attached a screenshot of the social media post, which wrongly mentioned about the death of 78-year-old Mahajan.
"With that, our cyber inquiry would try to trace the person who first spread the rumour," he added.
The police officer said that under section 144 of the CrPC, the district administration has banned such social media posts that may create law and order problems, he added.
Dedge, a supporter of Mahajan, in his complaint stated that the rumours about the former MP's death deeply hurt him mentally and flared up people's anger that may lead to public gatherings.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and few media organisations had on Thursday announced the demise of Mahajan.
However, Tharoor and others had later deleted the tweets after BJP leaders pointed out that she was fine.
After deleting the post, Tharoor had said he was relieved that Mahajan was doing fine and said he banked on "a reliable source" in putting out his tweet.
On Friday, Tharoor said in a tweet, "Spoke to Sumitra Mahajan ji's son to convey my sincere apologies at last night's misinformation. He was most gracious & understanding.
Delighted to hear she is very much better. Expressed my best wishes to her & her family."
The former Lok Sabha speaker's son Mandar put out a video clip saying that his mother is perfectly fine and urged people not to believe in the false news about her.
"My mother is perfectly fine. Please do not rely on false news being spread about her. Her COVID report is negative. I met her only in the evening and she is healthy," he said in the video.
Mahajan was the Lok Sabha Speaker from 2014 to 2019.
She earlier represented the Indore Lok Sabha constituency in Parliament for eight terms.
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
