One More for The Internet Related Abuse Files: Gurgaon Techie Unleashes Rants Against Sonia Gandhi on Orkut, Gets Arrested
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(WARNING – Obscene Language Displayed in This Post)
A couple of days back we brought to your notice the issue of Internet Related Abuse and Defamation through the Harman Baweja and Love Story 2050 episode. Here’s another case of claimed defamation – this time through Orkut.
22-year-old IT professional Rahul Krishnakumar Vaid from Gurgaon, Haryana was arrested by the Pune police for posting derogatory content about Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi on an orkut community named — “I hate Sonia Gandhi”. That community is not active anymore. Here is another community that exists and is based on a similar thread.
Vaid was charged under section 292 of Indian Penal Code and section 67 of the Information Technology Act because he created a profile and then posted content in vulgar language about Sonia Gandhi in the community. A Congress Activist had lodged a complaint against the community.
Rants against politicians on Social Networks in India are not uncommon in India – not anywhere in the World infact. As the Internet proliferates in India and more individuals join the social networking bandwagon, expect more (similar) messages against our political leaders.
Check out the image below – it contains items posted in a community on Arjun Singh – the HRD Minister in the Union Cabinet who has been the mainstay of the ‘reservation for historically disadvantaged populations’ debate and decision making process. (Caution: Inappropriate Language Displayed)
While the members posting on this forum are not ‘right’ in any way, the broadcasting of such thoughts are a reality and they will continue to exist. Social Networking forums present an ideal opportunity for like minded people to interact. Frustration against the political class is always going to exist as well. We are a growing country where over time we have seen a lot of movements against the status quo – be it the recently violent reservation movement, the long drawn Naxalite Movement or the movements related to secession and self-determination. One cannot stop counter culture and anti establishment rants. While certain forums need to be controlled (like the Sonia Gandhi forum where the Sonia Gandhi hater posted messages), people in power need to realise that stopping one forum will not lead to much. It may send out the message that they seek to make our country like China but apart from that it will not do much, More forums will Mushroom and more hate will arise. Interestingly, with Social Networks, the difference between the ‘private’ space of individuals and the ‘public’ space is getting blurred. Private opinions can now easily be broadcast in the public and have far reaching consequences. Political Parties and Individuals would benefit GREATLY if they tried to hire forces to try and change the opinions that exist across social networks through exchange and constant communication. This will have to become an increasingly important priority as more Indians become participative citizens on the Web. Banning one off groups is not a solution that sends out the right message.
To continue with the story of Rahul Vaid, the Cyber Crime Cell of Pune communicated with Google and figured out the location of Rahul and landed up at his address in Chakarpur, Haryana and brought him to Pune. Vaid has been remanded to police custody till May 21. If proved guilty, Vaid could be imprisoned for up to five years and may have to pay a fine up to Rs one lakh.
In such a situation, social networks are in a dilemma – if they do not provide information to the lawmakers about certain participants then they face the possibility of being wrecked by political parties in India (think 500 Congress/ MNS/ Shiv Sena workers smashing the Google India office); if they do provide the information, then they might loose the trust of people who have created their virtual identities online.
Disclaimer: This intention of this post is not to create controversy or offend anyone’s religious, political, or any other related sentiments
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Don’t know what to say. The web gives you a chance to make yourself heard. And all you have to say is swearwords! Wow! Serious prioritising needed.
woow i know thousands on communities like that in orkut,poor fellow.
Atleast some one from the authority must have warned him!
true – so many communities such as this one exist – noone warned him. People need to start becoming more careful – and they need to stop trusting Orkut so much!
lolz… And they say that we are a free country
Would like to see, how extent authority would be able keep watch on such offense…
Our police actually have more than enough burning issues to attend to…rather than pursue a case wherein someone says something obscene about some other person. The WWW is littered with stuff like that..its high time they prioritize what they want to do, rather than appease a few power holders….let them catch terrorists who send emails after bombing, or those who encourage child pornography, or those who provide pirated stuff…
Going behind a helpless techie who just happened to vent out his frustration is wasting resources…
how often do you see people cursing each other in traffic….what next..? Prosecute them? Have a life…….!
i agree!
cool posts harshil..
very insightful.. written properly and cool analysis.
great going!
thanks Ronak – glad you enjoyed it.