Case against Marathi actress for ‘derogatory’ post on Sharad Pawar
MUMBAI: An offence was registered in Maharashtra’s Thane city against Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale on Saturday for allegedly sharing a “derogatory” post on Facebook against NCP chief Sharad Pawar, with the party leaders demanding a strict action against her.
The post targeting Pawar shared by the TV and film actress on Friday was purportedly written by someone else.
The post in Marathi makes no direct mention of the NCP’S chief’s full name. But it mentions the surname Pawar and the age of 80. The NCP patriarch is 81-year-old. Comments like “hell is waiting” and “you hate Brahmins” are part of the post that allegedly criticises the veteran leader, whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and the Congress.
“The offence against Chitale was registered at Kalwa police station in Thane on Saturday based on a complaint lodged by Swapnil Netke, who alleged that the actress posted objectionable content against Pawar, and her post might strain the relationship between the two political parties in the state further and create trouble,” a police official said.
The case against Chitale was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 505 (2) (making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes), 153 A (spreading disharmony among people), he said.
Meanwhile, in Pune, the NCP submitted a letter to the police demanding action against Chitale over her post.
NCP’S Pune city unit president Prashant Jagtap said, “The social media post by Chitale is defamatory. She has defamed Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule in the post. This post may create unrest, which is why we have given a letter to the cyber police, urging them to take action against her.”
The NCP also demanded that the actress be arrested for the post. “Following the NCP’S letter, we are in the process of registering a case against the actress,” Dagadu Hake, inspector of cyber crime police station said.