The Cyberabad Police in Telangana's capital has been quick in taking action against miscreants. It was quick in responding to a complaint by a Twitter user against a street vendor who put up a saffron flag on his cart.
But on Tuesday, the Quickgun Murugans mistook a spoof for fake news and took no time to book the creator.
Retired armed forces doctor Neel, who goes by the name of Skin Doctor on Twitter, created a newspaper 'Deccan Cbonicle' and wrote a copy attributed to Arfa Photoshopwani (a play on Sherwani who has the same name). The spoof report said the Cyberabad Police was banning the sale of oranges because oranges happen to be saffron in colour. This was a criticism of the police against a vendor who had a saffron flag atop his cart.
The police action against the street vendor had drawn criticism from BJP-leaning Twitterati who posted photographs of many outlets that use Islamic names or symbols at their establishments.
The Twitter users accused the police of being hypervigilant in cases of Hindu symbols that are seen communal while ignoring cases of symbols of other faiths.
Meanwhile, the FIR against Skin Doctor says they spread fake news to disturb the peace.
Police have alleged that Skin Doctor created a "fake news article" by editing an old news report in an English daily.
"In the news/article he [Skin Doctor] mentioned that to boost secularism to the hilt, Cyberabad police banned the display, sale and consumption of Oranges in the City as the saffron colour of oranges is hurting the sentiments of the Muslims," the police said in a statement.