“Gokhale is being harassed by Gujarat police even after getting bail. He was arrested again at 8.45 pm while he was leaving cybercrime police station in Ahmedabad. The police team, without notice/warrant, are arresting him and taking him to unknown destination. Condemnable,” tweeted O’Brien.
The TMC spokesperson was allegedly arrested in connection with another case registered in Morbi.
SHOCKER #Break @SaketGokhale @AITCofficial being harassed by Gujarat Police even after getting bail. ARRESTED AGA… https://t.co/kzGs4CstIA
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) 1670514334000
Gokhale was sent to two-day police custody on December 6 over a tweet endorsing an alleged fake news report about PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Morbi after a bridge collapse incident there on October 31, which had claimed 135 lives.
Trinamool chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said the arrest smacked of “vindictive attitude” of the BJP government.
Forgery case
Gokhale, 35, had tweeted a news clipping which apparently appeared to have been published in a leading Gujarati newspaper. It claimed that a query under the right to information revealed that the Gujarat government had spent Rs 30 crore on Modi’s visit to Morbi.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Jitendra Yadav said, “When we contacted Gujarat Samachar, the management told us this news was never published and it was totally fake and created by someone to look authentic. Thus, we have detained Gokhale for spreading fake news.”
The police apprehended the TMC spokesperson from Jaipur in Rajasthan during the early hours of Tuesday.
An FIR was registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 465, 469, 471 (all pertaining to forgery) and 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory).
(With inputs from agencies)
