Amit Malviya, Arnab Goswami booked for spreading ‘false information’ on Congress

Bengaluru: The High Grounds police in Bengaluru have opened a case against the BJP’s IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, and television anchor Arnab Goswami over allegedly spreading false information about the Congress party having an office in Türkiye.

Following a complaint by the Indian Youth Congress's legal cell head, Shrikant Swaroop BN, the case was opened against Malviya, in-charge of BJP's National Information and Technology Department, and Goswami, the editor-in-chief of Republic Network, under BNS Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed; if not committed) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).

The FIR was registered on May 20 amid a diplomatic rift between India and Türkiye over the latter’s alleged support for Pakistan following the ghastly Pahalgam attack and India’s retaliation through Operation Sindoor.

The Congress party has alleged that the two masterminded a “heinous and criminally motivated campaign to disseminate patently false information”.

“The accused have maliciously propagated the fabricated claim that the Istanbul Congress Centre in Türkiye is the office of the Indian National Congress (INC). This act was executed with clear and undeniable criminal intent to deceive the Indian public, defame a major political institution, manipulate nationalist sentiments, incite public unrest, and undermine national security and democratic integrity,” the FIR noted.

The complaint further accused the two of exploitation of national sentiments, defamation of a political institution and incitement of public unrest.

“Their calculated misuse of influence to spread falsehoods with criminal intent demands the harshest response. I urge the Press Council of India, NBDSA, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CBI, and other law enforcement agencies to treat this complaint as a national emergency. The authorities must act decisively to arrest the accused, dismantle their disinformation networks, and restore public confidence in the rule of law,” the complainant told the police.

Sources in the police said that notice of appearance would likely be issued soon to the two suspects.