Almost a moth after Aam Aadmi Party leader Preeti Sharma Menon filed a complaint with the Delhi Police’s cyber cell against Abhijeet Bhattacharya, which led to an FIR being lodged against the singer, it has been revealed that the singer was arrested on July 26th, but released on bail. The charges of abusing a woman journalist and ‘outrage of modesty of a woman, were filed against him after he abused journalist Swati Chaturvedi on Twitter.
In an interview with the Indian Express CP (cyber) Sachin Patil said, “Abhijeet was arrested in July on the basis of the FIR against him for online abuse. However, since it was a bailable offence, he was given bail soon after the arrest.”
Also read: Maneka Gandhi steps up against trolling and online abuse of women
The whole incident was pretty open for the users of Twitter because Preeti regularly updated the actions of the Police and the singer on her public profile-
In a series of tweets, Menon on Friday said
.@mumbaipolice arrested @abhijeetsinger on my complaint on 26/07, released him on bail later. Serves him right @bainjal
— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) August 26, 2016
.@abhijeetsinger's phone confiscated, sent for forensics. Cops made Twitter order him to delete offensive tweets or shut handle @bainjal
— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) August 26, 2016
Shame on a man whose son has to bail him out on a case of abusing women#AbuserAbhijeetArrested
— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) August 26, 2016
Supporters of Preeti and Swati were no doubt pleased by the actions of the police.
Mumbai Police had arrested former singer Abhijeet, confiscated his mobile. He reportedly cried in police custody.https://t.co/XRXE0hkRUa
— Janta Ka Reporter (@JantaKaReporter) August 26, 2016
Mumbai Police decision to arrest singer Abhijeet is laudable and warning to trolls n those who indulge in online abuses. For a long time.1/
— bhavatosh singh (@bhavatoshsingh) August 26, 2016
Small victory, but an important one.
Feature Image Credit: Indianexpress