In a first, social media posts can land ‘offenders’ in history sheet

The subject of the memo read, “Instructions to open suspect/history sheets on all the habitual and addicted offenders/accused persons who are involved in social media offences and financial frauds and ensure close surveillance over the activities to curb their nefarious conduct”. As per the memo, history sheets will be opened to keep tabs on not just convicted social media offenders, but also “suspects”. This means that those accused of social media crimes under BNS section 111 and clauses of the Telangana State Police Manual (TSPM) can be added to the history sheet.

Speaking about the move, a senior Hyderabad police source said, “There is every reason to open these history sheets because several online social media trolls are targeting women and other weaker sections. There are also repeated offenders who post defaming content against people they do not like.” On whether this would include political social media activists, the source said, “It will include anyone who has committed social media offences under relevant provisions of the BNS and TSPM. No political party person is immune to this order.”

“It should be remembered that it also includes habitual financial fraudsters who cheat innocent people of their hard-earned money, too,” the officer said.

With the Telangana Home Department coming under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Opposition parties in the state —  the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the BJP — have decried the move. Opposition politicians have raised concerns that this could be used to target social media handles of Opposition supporters.