Two people have been arrested in Chennai for "spreading rumours" about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s J Jayalalithaa health condition on social media.
In addition 43 cases have been filed against people for "spreading rumours" about the Chief Minister's health, with the police accusing them of intending to cause riots.
In total, 43 cases have been registered in connection with posting of malicious and false content regarding the health condition of the Chief Minister on the social media. Users of social media are advised not to spread false, malicious and motivated information. Stern action will be taken against the culprits, if any such content is noticed.Police said in a statement
Special teams, constituted to investigate such cases, are working to identify those who had posted such false and malicious content on social media, he added.
Software engineer Sathish Kumar from Devanankurichi in Namakkal "admitted" to having posted "malicious content" on Facebook, and he was arrested based on a complaint from the AIADMK IT Wing Secretary G Ramachandran, police said.
Further, one Madasamy, who operated a website and posted "malicious content" about the Chief Minister's health, was arrested from Madurai, following a complaint from a Chennai-based resident, police said.
The two were arrested yesterday under different IPC sections for "spreading rumours with intent to cause riot, creating panic among general public, causing disturbance to public order and for creating hatred between two groups," police said, adding, they were remanded to custody.
Jayalalithaa was taken to hospital on 22 September. Rumours started spreading after her prolonged hospitilisation.
Expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa on Monday demanded a CBI enquiry into the health condition of Jayalalithaa.
Also Read: With Jayalalithaa in Hospital, Her Adviser Calls the Shots in TN
(With PTI Inputs.)
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