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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Online slander targeting CM catches CID’s attention, case registered RANJIT SINGH

GANGTOK, 02 June: This has been a development in the making for a while, threatened often, but put into effect only now. Sikkim Police has registered a criminal case against one person for allegedly defaming the Chief Minister on a social networking site.
In an overt message that loose and slanderous comments will no longer be tolerated even online, the Criminal Investigating Wing of the Sikkim Police has registered a criminal case against a person, reportedly hailing from Soreong in West Sikkim, who stands accused of posting offensive, derogatory and defamatory comments targeting the Chief Minister.
According to the police, the comments were made on Facebook. While the nature/ content of the comments posted on Facebook have not been revealed by the police, officials at the CID confirm the case and exhort that it was high time that the social media was ‘regulated’.
Official s inform that this case is more to send out a signal that misuse/ abuse of social media - where individuals, under the blanket of anonymity, target and pour abuse and slander on anyone they dislike – will not be allowed unfettered license to offend and defame.
It is informed that a full-fledged inquiry has been launched and that the law will take its due course.
“We all know the kind of comments that are being posted and uploaded in anonymity these days; some of these comments are out rightly derogatory and offensive. There is a need to strike a balance and since there is a law against posting of such slanderous material, we need to take action now to preempt any worsening of the situation,” stated an official at CID office.
In fact, it will be recalled that the recently concluded election had a proxy campaign by supporters of all parties on Facebook pages and a lot of the posts were undeniably scandalous and some even mischievously fabricated.  
As regards the instant case, it is informed that there will be a due enquiry into the allegations. The complaint was registered on a suo moto basis by the police invoking sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act, 2008. As of now, the accused is being investigated for defamation for which the punishment can extend up to 2 years under the IPC. He is also booked under section 66A of the IT Act which relates to punishment for sending offensive messages which are perceived to be grossly offensive, menacing and false. As per the Act, when such messages are posted for the purpose of insult, injury, enmity, hatred or ill will, punishment can extend to a maximum of 3 years.

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