21 websites in the dock for vulgar content on cine stars

HYDERABAD: Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID) sleuths have registered a case against 21 websites and YouTube channels for posting vulgar content against Tollywood artistes, including actors. On September 21, Movie Artist Association (MAA) president Shivaji Raja, general secretary Naresh and secretary Hema had lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime police station of CID alleging that 21 websites and YouTube channels were posting vulgar content against Tollywood actresses.

"The MAA representatives alleged that vulgar content about actresses is being posted on certain websites and YouTube channels causing humiliation to the individuals and damaging the image of the movie industry," Cyber Crime superintendent of police (SP) U Rammohan told TOI. MAA representatives requested police to shut down the websites and arrest the culprits. Preliminary investigation revealed that the websites were posting abusive, vulgar text in Telugu about actresses using morphed photos and videos.

After gathering prima facie evidence, Cyber Crime sleuths of CID registered a case against the administrators of the websites and YouTube channels under section 471 (knowingly using a forged document as genuine) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 67 and 67-A of the IT Act.

If the accused are in India, they would be arrested and the websites might be shut. If the servers and their administrators are abroad, police would block the websites, by writing to the department of telecom. Talking to TOI, MAA secretary Hema said." There are 150 websites posting vulgar content about Tollywood women and 60 of them have been identified to be operating from the city. I have already lodged several complaints with SHE Teams and Hyderabad Cyber Crime police in the past. Along with actresses, the website administrators are also targeting veteran male actors. All these sites have to be blocked."