Sushant Singh Rajput (File Photo)
KOLKATA: A day after the Kolkata Police cyber cell indicated it had started probing multiple complaints against several social-media users for their alleged “hate campaign” against Bengali women following allegations by actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s family against actress Rhea Chakraborty, cops have lodged a specific FIR.
The complaint had been filed by a Kolkata-based psychiatrist, also a part-time JU student, who has also approached the state women’s commission and had mailed her complaint directly to Lalbazar on August 1. She mentioned two profiles which had targeted her and sent obscene messages.
“We have found merit in the complaint. Accordingly, we have registered a case under IPC sections 354D (stalking), 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), read along with sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act,” said an officer. Joint CP (crime) Murlidhar Sharma has confirmed that a case has been lodged.
The police, though, refused to confirm if anyone has been named specifically in the FIR. “Several Facebook and Twitter accounts are under scanner and details of social media handles are being collected. There is a scope that the real accused have hidden their names,” said an officer.
On Monday, the complainant had recalled to TOI how she has a friend in Germany, who, like her, shares the Chakraborty surname.
“Some online bullies have been targeting my friend mistaking him to be actor Rhea Chakraborty’s brother. I had merely protested against it and I was targeted. I have reported it to the police,” she said on Tuesday, saying her friend also wanted to lodge a complaint in this matter. The psychiatrist, though, reminded that the offensive social-media page was yet to be taken down.
The psychiatrist welcomed the FIR. “You cannot let them slip away this time. We needed to show them that we will not let them get their way each time. One of the accused is a habitual offender,” she said on Tuesday.
Many social-media users have reported such posts to Kolkata Police in the last two days, prompting a detailed probe. The police complaints alleged the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput and allegations against Rhea Chakraborty have culminated into an online tirade against Bengali women.
Twitter user Sourav Bhattacharya had also informed the Kolkata Police Twitter handle against the same person’s offensive post.
