FIR filed in Karnataka against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya for spreading fake news

A case has been filed against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Tejasvi Surya and the editors of several Kannada news portals for allegedly spreading fake news about the suicide of a farmer in Haveri district. Police took action after the MP shared a post on social media linking the death to land disputes involving the Waqf board, which was later debunked by local authorities.

On November 7, Tejasvi Surya, representing South Bengal, shared an article from Kannada news portals on Platform by the Waqf board. Surya also took the opportunity to criticize the state government’s handling of minority cases, alleging that the government’s actions were creating unrest in Karnataka.

The post was later deleted after it was revealed that the claims were unfounded. Haveri District Superintendent of Police (SP) clarified that the suicide of Rudrappa Channappa Balikai had occurred on January 6, 2022, but was not related to any land dispute of the Waqf Board. The SP confirmed that the cause of the suicide was due to financial pressure due to crop loss and outstanding loans. A final report had already been filed under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and there was no fresh investigation into the case.

“The news shared by Tejasvi Surya is completely false,” the SP said in a statement. “No such incident has been reported and the information presented is misleading.”

In response to the spread of fake news, Haveri district police have registered a case under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for publishing or circulating statements intended to promote hatred, ill-will or enmity between different promote groups. The case was filed following a complaint by an official working in the social media monitoring cell of Haveri district police.

Besides Surya, the editors of two Kannada news portals, Kannada Dunia And Kannada Newshave also been named in the FIR for their role in spreading the fabricated report.

The incident has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the BJP MP of fueling communal tensions through misinformation. The case is now being investigated by the Cybercrime, Economic Offenses and Narcotic Drugs (CEN) Police in Haveri.

This development has raised concerns about the growing influence of social media in spreading disinformation and its potential to disrupt public peace and harmony.