The Kerala Police have initiated legal proceedings against Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Secretary and Spokesperson, Anil Antony, for their alleged involvement in hate speech and promoting enmity on social media platforms.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar is facing charges related to statements he made on social media following a series of blasts that occurred at a Jehovah’s Witnesses convention in Kerala. The blasts claimed three lives and left nearly 50 others injured. The FIR against Chandrasekhar was filed under sections 153 and 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act, which pertain to inciting riots and promoting enmity among different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, and residence.
After the blasts, Chandrasekhar had put up posts on X criticising Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
“Dirty shameless appeasement politics by a discredited CM (and HM) Pinarayi Vijayan besieged by corruption charges. Sitting in Delhi and protesting against Israel, when in Kerala open calls by Terrorist Hamas for Jihad is causing attacks and bomb blasts on innocent Christians,” he had posted on X.
The complaint against Chandrasekhar was lodged by a sub-inspector of the Cyber Cell of the Kochi city police. The police claim that the Union Minister used his social media accounts to intentionally disrupt communal harmony and incite violence.
Meanwhile, Anil Antony, the BJP’s National Secretary and Spokesperson is facing legal action for a social media comment regarding burqa-clad women. The case stemmed from a video showing students protesting against a bus that failed to stop at their college. Antony had shared the video on a social media platform with the caption: “No bus rides without a burqa in northern Kerala.” He has been booked under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with promoting enmity between different groups.
