Anti-government social media posts will be considered 'cybercrime': Bihar Government

Nayyar Hasnain Khan, the Additional Director-General (ADG) of the State Economic Offenses Wing (EOW), the Bihar Police's nodal agency for cybercrimes, wrote to the secretaries and principal secretaries of the state, informing them of the decision.

He asked them to notify the EOW if they find any defamatory/offensive social media posts against the state government so that action could be taken as per law.

In the letter, Khan wrote, "It has recently come to light that certain persons and organizations have been making defamatory and offensive comments on social media against the government, respected ministers, legislators, members of the Parliament, and government officials."

"This is against the law and comes under the category of cyber crime," he stated.

Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in Bihar's Assembly, took a dig at CM Nitish Kumar and also expressed outrage over the new social media policy of the state government.

"Look at the deeds of the Chief Minister who is following in the footsteps of Hitler. Nitish ji, we understand that you are completely tired. But, at least, have some shame," he tweeted.

Soon after the state government brought anti-government social media posts under the purview of cybercrime, the Bihar Police issued a clarification, saying that "constructive criticism" is still welcome.

"Criticism is healthy for democracy. But criticism must be constructive and the language used must fall within the norms of decency," said Jitendra Kumar, Additional Director General (Headquarters) of the Bihar Police.