‘Malicious content’, NCP’s outrage, now an FIR: The Savitribai Phule controversy in Maharashtra

A delegation of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) met Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, demanding action against a website for allegedly posting defamatory article about social reformer Savitribai Phule. As per the delegation, led by NCP MLA and leader of opposition Ajit Pawar, a website called IndikTales posted the false article about Phule.

Senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal said, “IndikTales and Hindu Post have projected Savotribai Phule in a wrong manner. They have made highly objectionable remarks that cannot be tolerated in progressive state like Maharashtra. Savitribai Phule was a great social worker. She had done pioneering work in field of women and education. She started the first school for women in Pune.”

What was the action taken?

Within an hour of their visit to the CP’s office, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed Chief Secretary Manoj Saunik to investigate the matter and submit a report, saying any insult of personalities such as Phule will not be tolerated.

However, despite the directive from the Chief Minister, the article has not been removed, NCP state president Jayant Patil alleged, after the party’s review meeting of 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

The FIR

Later in the night, a senior IPS officer told The Indian Express that an FIR has been registered against operator of IndicTales, HinduPost website, and BharadwajSpeaks Twitter account for publishing and spreading spreading false and malicious content.

The officer confirmed that the FIR has been registered at the Azad Maidan police station and police have booked the accused under sections 500 (defamation), 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).