CHENNAI: Chennai city and
Tamil Nadu police will soon crack down on those who have been spreading rumours in the social media on the health condition of chief minister Jayalalithaa, who is undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals.
Police sources confirmed that they have collected details of about 50 people who created panic by spreading rumours.
"We are waiting for instructions," a senior police officer in the city police commisssioner's office said.
"We have deployed a special team attached to the cyber crime wing to monitor posts about Jayalalithaa in the social media. We are getting more details through social activists like Kishore K Swamy and others," said a cyber crime wing police officer.
"We have received at least three dozen complaints from
AIADMK workers and social activists against Tamizhachi, a woman residing in France, for her recent post on Facebook. We have asked the complainants to bring a screenshot of the social media page and copy its URL to confirm the message was forwarded by the person concerned," said a police officer.
Based on a complaint from the AIADMK's IT wing secretary, the CCB police have already registered a case against Tamizachi under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 505 (1) (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statements, rumour or reports) and 505 (1) (b) (with intent to cause or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public) of the Indian Penal Code.