The Indore Police announced on Saturday that it has lodged an FIR against the individuals managing the ‘X’ accounts of senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi , MP Congress chief Kamal Nath, and former Union Minister Arun Yadav.
The action was taken in response to a post that accused the Madhya Pradesh BJP government of engaging in corrupt practices. According to a statement released on the rebranded social media platform known as ‘X’, the Indore Police Commissioner stated that on August 12, Nimesh Pathak, the legal cell convenor of the local BJP, lodged a complaint regarding a fake letter attributed to a person named Gyanendra Awasthi that was circulated on social media.
The fabricated letter alleged that contractors in the state were being coerced into paying a 50 percent commission.
A case has been registered not only against Awasthi but also against the “handlers” of the ‘X’ accounts associated with Vadra, Nath, and Arun Yadav at the Sanyogitaganj police station in the city. The complaint filed by Pathak is currently under investigation.
Earlier in the day, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Ramsanehi Mishra informed that FIRs were lodged against the Twitter “handles” of Vadra, Nath, and Arun Yadav at the Sanyogitaganj police station, based on Pathak’s complaint.
The case has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating) and 469 (forgery with intent to harm reputation). Pathak alleged that the Congress leaders conspired to tarnish the reputation of the state government and his party by disseminating “misleading” social media posts and accusing the BJP administration in the state of engaging in corruption.
The police are currently in the process of verifying the authenticity of the respective Twitter handles. On a previous occasion, Vadra asserted on ‘X’ that a coalition of contractors from Madhya Pradesh had written a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court, claiming that their payments were released only upon paying a 50 percent commission.
Vadra stated, “The corrupt BJP government in Karnataka used to collect 40% commission. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has surpassed its own record of corruption. The people of Karnataka ousted the 40% commission government, and now the people of Madhya Pradesh will remove the 50% commission government from power.” Similar posts were also shared by Nath and Yadav.
Addressing Priyanka Gandhi’s allegations as false, MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra previously requested evidence from the Congress leader to substantiate her claims. He cautioned that if proof wasn’t provided, the state government and the BJP could explore legal action. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan remarked that the opposition party was propagating falsehoods.
On Friday evening, the Gwalior police registered a case against a few individuals in connection with Priyanka Gandhi’s post.
