CHENNAI: The cybercrime wing of the Chennai city police booked a man for issuing rape threats to actor Vijay Sethupathi's daughter over a row over acting in a biopic of Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan.
The accused on Monday issued a rape threat to the actor via his Twitter handle -- @itsrithikrajh. He also uploaded the actor's photo with his daughter.
The police received complaints from many activists and members of associations demanding legal action against the suspect, who was identified as Rithik Raj.
Based on a complaint filed by the St John Ambulance Association, the cybercrime wing registered a case under Sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot, enmity), 294 (B) (using obscene language) of the IPC and 67-B of IT Act (Punishment for the publishing of material depicting children in sexually explicit act, in electronic form).
An investigation officer said they were yet to trace the suspect.
He said, “We have approached Twitter to give us the details of the man by tracking him with the help of his URL and internet protocol (IP) address.”
If the man uploaded the tweet through a fake ID, we have approached the few other central government agencies to support the investigation officers to trace the suspect.
“We will soon nab the suspect,” said another investigating officer.
"There have been a lot of concerns over comments made in social media against a celebrity. On receipt of the complaint, a case in cyber cell has been registered," tweeted Chennai city police commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal.
After the post turned into a controversy, the suspect deleted his Twitter account, said police.
The FIR comes in the wake of the ongoing biopic controversy of Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan.
Tamil star Vijay Sethupathi was facing wrath on social media ever since the motion poster of his upcoming movie '800' was launched. The film is a biopic of Muttiah Muralitharan and Vijay Sethupathi was assigned to play the role of veteran Sri Lanka’s spinner.
Fans were upset that the actor took up the role of the Tamil-origin cricketer who never spoke out against the alleged atrocities that the Sri Lankan government brought upon the Eelam Tamils.
Earlier, netizens used the hashtag #ShameOnVijaySethupati to convey their anger and disappointment. Over the past week, Muralitharan explained how his interviews in the past were taken out of context and later sympathised with the actor and requested him to leave the project.
"I don't want any other unnecessary hurdles in his career and due to this I request him to withdraw himself from this movie," said Muralidharan in his statement.
On Monday, heeding to the request, Vijay Sethupathi confirmed that he withdrew from the movie.