Dhaba Owner Apprehended for Alleged Cyber Offence
Police in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district have made an arrest in a case involving the circulation of a manipulated image of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The incident, which came to light late on Thursday, led to the detention of a 43-year-old man accused of sharing an AI-generated caricature deemed highly objectionable.
Details of the Arrest and Accused
The individual taken into custody has been identified as Pintu Yadav, also known as Sunil Yadav. He is the son of Hariram and resides in Bania Ka Purwa village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Salon police station. According to official statements, Yadav operates a small roadside restaurant, commonly known as a dhaba, in the local area.
Authorities confirmed that the arrest was executed on Thursday. The central allegation against him is that he either created or shared a morphed and indecent caricature of the Chief Minister on social media platforms. Police officials emphasized that the fabricated image was not only deeply disrespectful but also possessed the potential to hurt public sentiments and disrupt the existing communal harmony in the region.
Police Investigation and Legal Implications
Salon Police Station House Officer (SHO) RK Singh provided further insight into the case. He stated that the act of posting and disseminating such AI-created content is a serious matter that can incite public disorder. Consequently, the case is being treated as a significant cyber and criminal offence.
SHO Singh also mentioned that the police are examining whether the accused holds any political affiliations. However, during initial questioning, Pintu Yadav was reportedly unable to provide a satisfactory reason for his alleged involvement in the act. In a key development, the police have announced that they will be seeking assistance from the cyber cell to trace the primary accused individual who is believed to be managing the social media page responsible for posting the objectionable content.
