The cybercrime police in Tamil Nadu’s Trichy district on Saturday booked R Nataraj, a former director general of police, for allegedly “spreading false propaganda” against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.
In a complaint, Trichy-based lawyer and DMK office bearer P Sheela accused Nataraj of using WhatsApp to circulate the “false claim” that thousands of temples in Tamil Nadu have been destroyed over the past two years with the help of the police.
The former DGP is also a a former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MLA.
The police also said that Nataraj has been also been accused of spreading a fake message on a WhatsApp group named “Public Defense Prosecution”, which he shared alongside a photo of Chief Minister MK Stalin to imply that the words were that of Stalin.
“If the DMK has to win by the votes of the Hindus, such victory is not needed. The DMK has not stooped low to win in the election by getting the votes of Hindus,” the message allegedly said, according to The News Minute.
The police action comes a day after MK Stalin denounced the former police officer for running a smear campaign against him but he did not name Nataraj.
The former DGP has been booked on charges of promoting enmity between different religious groups, intentionally provoking public disturbance, spreading rumours to incite fear or alarm, and personation via communication devices of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.
