A man named Ponduri Kotiratnam Anjan was arrested by the police in Gannavaram, Krishna district for posting derogatory messages on social media against Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and other leaders of the ruling party. Anjan, who had completed his MS in the US and worked there for three years before returning to India in 2015, was picked up by the police from his house in Gannavaram on Wednesday. A local worker of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) had filed a complaint against him which led to his arrest.
The police have registered a case against Anjan under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 153A for defaming the government and promoting enmity between different groups through his social media posts. However, Anjan was released on bail by a local court on Thursday evening as the judge refused to send him on remand and asked the police to issue a notice for questioning.
The police seized his mobile phones and laptops and sent them to the forensic science laboratory for examination. They alleged that Anjan was posting messages in favor of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and targeting YSRCP leaders. The police also questioned him if he was doing this at the behest of any TDP leader, but Anjan claimed that he was posting the messages on his own.
The police have stated that they will register a cyberbully sheet against Anjan and keep a constant vigil on him. This incident highlights the need for responsible use of social media and the consequences of posting derogatory messages against political leaders or any group of people.
