Lockdown: 251 cases registered in Maha for fake news, rumours

Mumbai, Apr 21 () At least 251 offences wereregistered by the Maharashtra police's cyber wing for rumoursand misinformation spread on social media since the COVID-19lockdown was imposed in the state on March 22, an officialsaid on Tuesday.

Of these 251 cases, 112 were registered in connectionwith objectionable WhatsApp forwards, he said.

The state police's cyber wing, which monitors socialmedia activities, observed that WhatsApp was the most popularmedium used to circulate fake news, rumours and hate speeches,the official said.

At least 87 offences were related to fake news andrumour-mongering posts shared on Facebook, he said.

In a case of cyber crime registered at Dhule, anaccused had written a post on Facebook alleging that aparticular community was responsible for the coronavirusoutbreak, thus spreading disharmony and hatred, the officialsaid.

Similarly, in Pune Rural, two persons were booked forcirculating an objectionable message related to the pandemicon WhatsApp, he added.

At least 50 persons were arrested for spreadingrumours, misinformation, fake news and hate speeches since thelockdown was enforced on March 22 and over 31 objectionableposts were removed from social media platforms, he said. DCARU ARU