The Andhra Pradesh High Court said that there was no doubt about Sajjala Bhargav Reddy and his associates putting up objectionable and offensive posts on social media. It said there was no second thought about it.
The Court asked the police about the measures taken to remove such posts. According to Bharata Nyaya Samhita (BNS) Section 111, kidnap, extortion, land grabbing, human trafficking, contract murders, financial crimes, cyber crimes and others come under institutionalized crimes. In this backdrop, how does an issue maligning the character of a person or persons on social media fall under cyber crime, the Court asked the public prosecutor representing the police.
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If it has to come under cyber crime, the accused should have got money or valuables from the victims, the Court clarified. In this case, the posts were put up for the benefit of a political party, which can be counted as ‘perceptional’ benefit and not material benefit, it said.
It was not appropriate to go with the petitioner’s argument saying if two cases are filed against the accused, then it can be considered institutionalized crime.
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The hearing on the case has been postponed to next Wednesday. Justice N Vijay heard the case and issued the directives.
