A 21-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly publishing fake poll dates of 2019 general elections on his website from a WhatsApp group in January. The accused was arrested following a complaint from the office of Chief Electoral Officer.
The accused has been identified as Gomunt Kumar, a resident of Jharkhand. According to a senior police official, they had received a complaint in January from the Electoral Officer mentioning that fake news about the schedule of 2019 general elections is being circulated on various online and social media platforms.
“During investigation, the police team zeroed down on a website named www.mytechbuzz.in. It was found that the false schedule had published from this website. Technical investigation was conducted which helped police team to identify the admin of the website. Kumar was asked to join the probe in Delhi and was later arrested on January 31,” said a senior police official in cyber cell.
During interrogation the man revealed that he had received the election schedule on a WhatsApp group which he then published on his website to increase the popularity of the website. Since the arrest was under bailable sections, Kumar was later released on bail.
"His devices have been seized and further investigation is underway. We are yet to check the content of the WhatsApp group from where he took that information," said Anyesh Roy, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), cyber cell.
Police are also checking accused involvements in previous cases if any. We were told that he has shut down his website. “Political involvement behind the incident and background of the members of the WhatsApp group are also being checked,” said the senior police official.