Police book six social media handles over misleading Allahabad HC claims
Police have registered a case against the unidentified owners of six social media accounts for allegedly circulating false and misleading information about Allahabad High Court proceedings in a habeas corpus case, an official said on Friday.
Shamli Superintendent of Police N P Singh said the case was registered at City Kotwali police station against accounts operating under the names “Kari Shama Aziz”, “Nikhat Ali”, “The Muslim”, “Wasim Akram Tyagi”, “Syed Kaif Hasan” and “Nadeem Sai”.
According to police, the accounts claimed that the Allahabad High Court had reprimanded Shamli Police while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Ayush Malik, a 31-year-old resident of Shamli.
“The court never made such a remark against Shamli Police,” Singh said.
Malik had approached the high court through his friend Sultan, alleging that his father had illegally detained him after he converted to Islam and married a Muslim woman. Acting on the petition, the court directed that Malik be produced before it.
Shamli Police subsequently produced Malik before the court, where his statement was recorded. In his petition, Malik stated that he had voluntarily renounced Hinduism and embraced Islam without coercion, undue influence or inducement. He also said he had married Chandni Qureshi against his father's wishes.
In its September 9 order, the high court observed that documents placed before it prima facie indicated that Malik had voluntarily embraced Islam and married Qureshi. The court also noted that the allegations concerning his alleged illegal detention and the purported involvement of state authorities were serious and required immediate consideration.
Police alleged that the six social media accounts presented the court proceedings in a misleading manner and claimed that the high court had “scolded” Shamli Police during the hearing.
The case has been registered over allegations of circulating fake news and misleading information concerning judicial proceedings. Police said the identities of the account holders were yet to be established.
