Sarpanch Arrested for Objectionable WhatsApp Status, Sent to Jail in Chhattisgarh’s First Such Action
Raipur: A village sarpanch in Durg district has been arrested and sent to judicial custody for allegedly posting objectionable content about administrative revenue officials on his WhatsApp status, despite having previously been bound down under preventive proceedings.
Police identified the accused as Arun Gautam, a resident of Samoda village under Pulgaon police station limits. He was allegedly involved in posting objectionable material concerning administrative revenue officials on the social media platform’s status feature.
The case came to light after a written complaint was submitted by a villager, Jitendra Deshmukh. Based on the complaint and a communication received from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Durg, Pulgaon police registered a case against Gautam under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
The case has been registered under Crime No. 950/26.
During the investigation, police arrested Gautam and seized the mobile phone allegedly used to upload the objectionable content.
According to police, the significant aspect of the case is that the accused had earlier faced preventive legal proceedings and was bound down to ensure that he did not repeat such activities. However, he allegedly violated the conditions of the bond by engaging in similar activities again, prompting further legal action.
Police have also submitted a report before the SDM Court, Durg, seeking action over the alleged violation of bond conditions. The accused has subsequently been sent to jail in judicial remand.
Durg police claimed that this is the first such action in Chhattisgarh, in which an accused has been sent to judicial custody following an alleged violation of bond conditions imposed during preventive proceedings.
Police have appealed to citizens to exercise restraint while using social media and refrain from sharing objectionable or unlawful content targeting individuals or government officials. They warned that violations of the law and conditions imposed under preventive proceedings would invite strict legal action.
