CM Siddaramaiah calls for united action against fake news, warns of legal consequences
Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued a stern warning, stating that the government will take strong legal action against individuals spreading fake news. Speaking at the district journalists' association's Press Day and award ceremony on Saturday, he expressed concern over the growing threat of misinformation, urging society to come together to tackle the issue.
The Chief Minister stressed that while laws have been put in place to penalize those responsible for spreading fake news, legal measures alone are not enough. He stressed on the need for a collective effort to combat the rise of misinformation. "Laws are crucial, but it is the responsibility of society as a whole to reject fake news and ensure that truth prevails," he said.
Citing a personal example, Siddaramaiah recalled an incident during an assembly session where he quoted former CM BS Yediyurappa, who had asked, "Do we have a printing machine to print currency to waive loans?" However, a distorted version of the statement was later circulated on social media, falsely attributing the comment to Siddaramaiah and linking it to the state's guarantee schemes. "This false information not only misled the public but caused harm to me and society as a whole," he remarked.
The CM also highlighted the government's efforts to counter misinformation, announcing the formation of special fact-check units in every district. These units are tasked with identifying and addressing the spread of fake news, with the goal of preserving truth and transparency in public discourse.
"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right granted by our Constitution," Siddaramaiah said, adding that if misinformation threatens the three branches of the Constitution—legislative, executive, and judiciary—society itself will be in danger.
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Second PUC results: Life convict clears exam with distinction, DGP lauds effort
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Bengaluru: A life convict lodged in Ballari Central Prison has successfully cleared the second PUC examination.
Ashok Kumar S, who appeared for the examination under prison escort, secured 481 marks out of 600, registering 80.1 percent.
Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services), Alok Kumar (IPS), shared the development on his official ‘X’ handle, commending the inmate’s achievement.
In his post, he stated that it was heartening to see a life convict score over 80 percent in the examination, adding that the inmate had appeared from Ballari Central Prison under escort.
It’s heartening to see that one of our life convict prisoners Ashok has obtained 80.1% marks in PUC exam. He appeared under Prison escort from Ballari Central Prison for his exams.
— alok kumar (@alokkumar6994) April 9, 2026
Glad to see that Walls of the prison has not subdued his hopes for a better future. pic.twitter.com/Nzlcy076SR
He further noted that the achievement reflected that the “walls of the prison have not subdued his hopes for a better future.”
Alok Kumar in his post also shared the result sheet of Ashok.
The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) declared the second PUC results for 2026 on April 9.
A total of 6,32,200 students appeared for the examination across all streams, of whom 5,46,698 passed, recording an overall pass percentage of 86.48 per cent.
