Cleric complains misuse of name to incite disharmony

Lucknow: Lucknow Police on Tuesday registered FIR against an unidentified Facebook account holder on charges of circulating objectionable, misleading and communal content using name and photograph of prominent Shia cleric Maulana Mirza Mohammad Yasoob Abbas.

According to police officials, the case was registered at Chowk Police Station after the cleric submitted written complaint alleging misuse of his identity on social media.

Maulana Yasoob Abbas, resident of Shahganj area in Lucknow, alleged in the complaint that an unknown person on Facebook had circulated a fake and objectionable post using his name and photograph with the alleged intention of inciting hatred and enmity among communities. Police confirmed that the post contained inflammatory and communal remarks that could disturb social harmony and public peace.

Officials said the cleric publicly refuted the viral content after learning about the post and appealed to people through media platforms not to believe or circulate misleading information on social media.

Police registered FIR under Section 353(2) (circulation of rumours) of the BNS and Section 66C of the Information Technology Act against the unidentified Facebook account holder.

DCP (west zone) Kamlesh Dixit said technical and legal processes have been initiated to identify the social media account and cyber experts are analysing digital evidence and online activity linked to it. He said legal action would be taken once the accused was identified.

Lucknow Police appealed to public not to share or forward provocative, misleading or unverified social media content without verification and urged citizens to help maintain communal harmony and law and order.