MBA Student Held For Circulating Anti-Modi Message On WhatsApp

Bangalore police arrested an MBA student for allegedly circulating anti-Narendra Modi messages on smartphone messenger WhatsApp.

The arrest of the 24-year-old was based on an FIR lodged in Belgaum district by RTI activist Jayant Mukund Tinaikar. Jayant received the message against Modi on WhatsApp on May 16.

During investigation, police found that the message originated in Bangalore and was sent by Sayed Waqar, an MBA student from Anjuman Institute of Management in Bhatkal, Uttara Kannada district. Waqar was in Bangalore for a month to do internship.

Following the raid and questioning, the police let off the four people living with Waqar as they had no role to play in this case.

Hemanth Nimbalkar, joint commissioner of police (crime), said Waqar claimed to be an Aam Aadmi Party worker, but the police could not verify it.

Waqar's arrest comes under Section 505 of the IPC for issuing statements amounting to public mischief with intent to cause fear or alarm and Section 66 of the IT Act for sending offensive messages through communication service.