PUNE: A 37-year-old Kalewadi resident was arrested on Thursday night on the charge of posting a defamatory video against the leader of opposition in the state, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, on a social media site.
A Chinchwad-based social activist and Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) office-bearer Komal Shinde (37) lodged an FIR in connection with the post, stating that it had caused indignation among the BJP workers and had hurt their sentiments.
The Wakad police then zeroed in on the suspect, Yuvaraj Dakhale, having six cases registered against him.
“We have taken preventive action against him and have initiated the process of Dakhale’s externment,” Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioner Krishna Prakash said on Friday.
Dakhale, a resident of Tapkirnagar in Kalewadi, has been charged under sections 294 (punishment for obscene acts or words in public) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
“Dakhale was produced before the court on Friday and was released on bail,” said senior inspector Vivek Mugalikar of the Wakad police.
The senior inspector said that Dakhale was the president of a traders’ organisation.
“On March 2, Dakhale had posted a video on the video-sharing site defaming former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. He also had made derogatory comments about Fadnavis,” the officer said.
Mugalikar said that Shinde stated in her complaint that Dakhale had posted the video just to earn publicity.
“She also stated that the suspect did not have any proofs for his claims,” the senior police inspector said.