Probe casteist slur against Punjab CM in month, says panel

Chandigarh, October 14

The Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes has directed the Bureau of Investigation to submit a report by November 16 after completing the probe into the case of casteist remarks made against the Punjab Chief Minister on social media.

Commission member Gian Chand said in September, a user had made abusive and casteist remarks against the Chief Minister on Facebook, taking suo motu notice of which the commission had directed the Bureau of Investigation, Punjab, to probe the matter. He said during a hearing yesterday, Balraj Singh, AIG, appeared on behalf the Director, Bureau of Investigation, and informed in writing that according to a report received from Nilambari Jagdale, AIG (Police), State Cyber Crime Cell, a case under Section 153A of the IPC and Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act, 1989, had been registered with the State Cyber Crime Police Station, Phase-4, SAS Nagar.

The police officer said a notice was sent to the Facebook Legal Authority under Section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code for deleting the controversial post and providing information of user of the Facebook ID, after which the post was deleted. However, the information about the handler is yet to come, and after receiving that, the matter will be investigated further. Upon hearing the case, the commission member directed the police to complete the probe soon. — TNS