Postcard News founder arrested for allegedly spreading fake news
The founder of Postcard News was arrested on Thursday for allegedly spreading fake news about a Jain monk attacked by a Muslim youth. Mahesh Vikram Hegde was picked up from the Central Majestic area of Bengaluru by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) and has been sent to 14 days of police custody. The FIR was filed under Section 66 of the IT act (dishonest or fraudulent information).
On March 11, Jain monk Upadhyaya Mayank Sagarji Maharaj was hit by a bike being driven by a drunk man. The seer was walking with his satsang team in Mysuru and suffered injuries after being hit. The following day, Postcard news reported the story with a headline, 'Very Sad news Yesterday in Karnataka Jain Muni, Attacked by Muslim Youth (sic)'.
After the fraudulent report was widely shared on Facebook and WhatsApp, Gaffer Baig, a resident of Whitefield filed an FIR. Joint commissioner N Satheesh Kumar said, "Contrary to the claims by Hegde, the monk had met with a road accident." He further confirmed Hegde's arrest.
BJP MP Pratik Simha slammed the arrest and tweeted, "Today morning Coward Congress Govt (Karnataka) arrested @mvmeet Mahesh Vikram Hegde under unconnected IT act 66, that too by using CCB! Shame on you." On the other hand, State home minister Ramalinga Reddy said the police were doing their duty and the comments by the BJP on this were expected.
