Defaming on social media: Maharashtra cops give ‘last warning’ to 100

Maharashtra Cyber Police Wednesday sent notices to over 100 individuals for publishing defamatory content against “prominent persons” on social media. The notices, sent under section 149 CrPC, are a “final reminder” that repeating such action will result in a cognisable offence.

“We have observed that certain users are using social media platforms for posting offensive/ abusive/defamatory/malicious posts. Maharashtra Cyber Police Department…is issuing a notice under section 149 CrPC to all such users posting offensive messages to refrain from doing so as it is an offence under Information Technology Act,” a note issued by the Maharashtra Cyber Police said. “…Any user found violating the provisions of the said laws will have to face strict penal action. We will be issuing separate notices individually, to users posting offensive messages in their inboxes,” it said.