Postcard News founder held for fake story about Jain monk

BENGALURU: The crime branch of Bengaluru police on Thursday arrested Mahesh Vikram Hegde, the founder of news website Postcard News, for spreading alleged fake news through social media posts about a Jain monk being attacked by Muslims.

Police officials had later confirmed revealed that the monk in question was injured in an accident in Kanakapura city.

Confirming the arrest, N Satheesh Kumar, the joint commissioner of police (crime), who heads the city crime branch (CCB), said Hegde was produced before a magistrate and sent to police custody for 14 days.

“Contrary to the claims by Hegde, the monk had met with a road accident and sustained the injuries,” Kumar said.

According to Kumar, the accident took place during monk Mayank Sagar’s visit to the state for the Mahamastakabhisheka of Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola in Hassan district.

A complaint was filed against the alleged fake post by one Gaffer Baig on March 21 under Section 66 of the Information Technology Act (dishonest or fraudulent information).

The opposition BJP criticised the development as high handedness of the ruling Congress government.

Pratap Simha, BJP member of Parliament from Mysuru, called the state government cowards. “Today morning Coward Congress Govt (Karnataka) arrested @mvmeet Mahesh Vikram Hegde under unconnected IT act 66, that too by using CCB! Shame on you,” he tweeted. Responding to the BJP’S allegations, state home minister Ramalinga Reddy said the police was doing its duty.