The Telangana High Court recently ordered that no coercive action be taken against Indian National Congress workers in a case involving a fake video of Union Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah.In an order passed on May 3, Justice B Vijaysen Reddy directed both the State and Delhi police to refrain from taking any coercive steps against the Congress workers."Respondent No.5 is directed not to take any coercive steps pursuant to notices under Sections 911160 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 bearing No.177 R/ACP/IFSO (Team a)/Spl Cell New Delhi, Notice No.'|78 R/I,CP/IFSO (Team 4)/Spl Cell New Delhi, Notice No.179 R/ACP/IFSO (Team )/Spl Cell New Delhi, Notice No.180 R/ACP/IFSO (Team a)/Spl Cell New Delhi dated 211.04.2024 until further orders," the Court directed.However, the present order shall not come in the way of the State in investigating the matter, the Court added.The Court further directed the Commissioner of Police of Hyderabad, the principal secretary (Home), and others to submit their responses to the plea by Congress workers.The plea was filed by Congress workers Manne Sathish, Asma Tasleem, Ambala Shiva Kumar, Pettam Naveen, Koya Geetha, and Pendyala Vamshi Krishna challenging a case registered against them by the Delhi police based on a complaint filed by one Shinku Sharan Singh.The petitioners are accused of sharing a manipulated video clip of Home Minister Amit Shah on social media.The complaint alleged the manipulation and dissemination of a video featuring Shah, purportedly suggesting that reservations for Scheduled Castes/ Schedule Tribes (SC/STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) would be abolished if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains in power at the Centre.On May 3, the Hyderabad Police arrested several members from the Telangana Congress party in connection with the case.The accused were presented before a local court which granted them bail under the condition that each individual must provide two sureties worth ₹10,000 each and must appear before the investigating officer every Monday and Friday until further notice.Advocate Thoom Srinivas appeared petitioners.
TAGS: Telangana High Court Congress workers fake video Amit Shah no coercive action plea investigation bail Hyderabad Police manipulation social media
