Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Dec 21: Police have registered a suo motu case after video clips of a protest meeting organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Mangaluru were circulated on social media, allegedly containing misleading information and selective references to court judgments.
According to a police press release, the protest meeting was held in Mangaluru on Friday, December 19. After the video clips went viral on social media platforms, officials examined the content and found that certain statements allegedly presented only selective portions of judgments delivered by various courts, which could mislead the public and create confusion.
In this connection, a suo motu complaint has been registered at the Bantwal Rural police station. Police said an inquiry is under way and appropriate legal action will be initiated based on the findings. Further details will be shared after completion of the preliminary investigation.
The press release stated that selectively quoting portions of court judgments could lead to distorted interpretations and create an impression that SDPI is involved in anti-national or terrorist activities. It questioned whether such conclusions could be drawn merely on the basis of selective readings of judicial orders.
As an example, the release referred to a May 2023 order in which the Karnataka High Court dismissed a petition filed by SDPI challenging the seizure of its Mangaluru office under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). It questioned whether the dismissal of the petition alone could be construed as proof of the organisation’s involvement with terrorist activities.
It also cited a previous communal murder case in the district in which an SDPI gram panchayat member is an accused and is currently in jail, with courts having rejected his bail pleas. The release stated that selectively referring to such cases and court orders to portray SDPI as an organisation involved in conspiracy and murder, or to demand the resignation of all its members, would be misleading.
Police said selectively presenting court judgments forms part of the spread of false or misleading information. The press release appealed to protestors to critically examine such claims themselves and urged the public to remain cautious about attempts to create confusion through selective narratives.