An FIR has been registered against Congress President Sonia Gandhi for a tweet from Congress' official handle on Twitter. The tweet alleges misuse of PM CARES Fund. KV Praveen Kumar, an Advocate, got his complaint registered with the Sagara town police in Shivamogga district, Karnataka. He alleged that INC on their official Twitter handle called PM CARES Fund a fraud and that PM is going on foreign trips using this fund, They called PMCARES fund a fraud. They said on their twitter that it is not being used for public & that PM is going on foreign trips using this fund. These are rumours against govt in #COVID19 situation, so I filed a complaint (against Sonia Gandhi): KV Praveen Kumar, Advocate https://t.co/ZmmYpRsENI pic.twitter.com/bzo2WkvuYx
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2020 reported. The FIR identifies Sonia Gandhi as the handler of the INC official Twitter handle. The state congress has condemned the case.
The tweet under question was posted on May 11 from INC's official Twitter handle, asking "If the PM CARES fund is not being used for transport of migrants, repatriation of Indians from abroad or providing a financial stimulus, what is it being used for?" It also included a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, further putting a question, "Will PM Cares Fund be used to provide a stimulus for the economy?"
Case Filed Under Section 153 And 505 (1)(B) of the IPC
The case has been filed under Sections 153 and 505 (1)(B) of the IPC. Section 153 identifies people promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. Section 505 (1)(B) punishes those who intend to cause or likely to cause fear or alarm among the public, or any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offense against the State or against the public tranquillity.
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Karnataka State Congress Condemned The Registration Of Case
The registering of the case and filing of FIR against Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been condemned by the Karnataka State Congress. Kanakapura MLA and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar has written to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B.S. Yediyurappa, demanding the withdrawal of the FIR. In his letter to the CM, he wrote, "The complainant has filed this complaint with a political motive on false information, stating that Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji has tweeted stating that Prime Minister has been misusing the Prime Minister Care Fund." In his tweet, he also urged to register an FIR against the police officer for misusing the process of law, along with suspending him for the same.
Karnataka Congress spokesperson Subhash Agarwal condemned registration of case and said, "It is the role and responsibility of the opposition to question the government. Democracy will die if the opposition's voice is muzzled," The Outlook reported.
The complainant, KV Praveen Kumar, has sought legal action against Sonia Gandhi and others involved in handling the INC Twitter handle. "They had also said that the Prime Minister was enjoying and going to foreign trips with this fund. This is clearly rumourous news against the Government of India in this COVID-19 pandemic situation. In this regard, I had filed a complaint. After a primary enquiry, the Sagar Police has filed an FIR against Sonia Gandhi, who heads the INC Twitter account," he said.
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