‘Obscene’ messages on digital ad board: Police register case

POLICE SAID THE STORE MANAGER, IN HIS COMPLAINT, ALLEGED THAT THE BOARD HAD BEEN MANIPULATED

NEW DELHI: The police have filed a case over obscene messages flashed on a digital advertisement screen placed near a departmental store in Paschim Vihar.

The complaint was filed by the store manager after a video of the incident, showing “obscene advertisements about women and prostitution” on the screen, was circulated on social media, attracting criticism from the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Twitter.

Police officers said the store manager, in his complaint, alleged that the advertisement board was hacked or manipulated to flash the messages.

The FIR was registered under the Indian Penal Code’s sections 292(2)(a), 292(2)(d) and 294, all related to obscene and indecent advertisement and displays. No arrest was made in the case till Friday evening.

The 27-second video of the obscene advertisement was posted on Twitter by a user around 3.30pm on Thursday.

Reacting to the video, DCW chief Maliwal said, “Shameful! Sex rackets at Delhi’s spas have increased to such an extent that those running spas are running the business indiscriminately. Spas are not at all scared by MCD and Delhi Police. The Delhi Police should not only quickly shut down this spa but should also take action against its local staff (police personnel).”

Deputy commissioner of police (outer) Sameer Sharma released a video in which he clarified that the advertisement board in question did not belong to a spa centre but to a departmental store.

He said the police came across the viral video on social media on Thursday evening.

“The police verified the video and learnt that the area where that advertisement board was installed was in the territorial jurisdiction of Paschim Vihar West police station. Later, a complaint was received from the manager of the store alleging that the digital advertising board belonging to them was hacked. Accordingly, a case was registered and investigation is underway,” the DCP added.