The Supreme Court verdict striking down Section 66-A of the Information Technology Act which allowed arrests for objectionable content online, has given only partial relief to Gulrez Khan, aka Vicky, the Bareilly teenager who was arrested last week for allegedly sharing a fake statement of Azam Khan on Facebook. He has been released on bail.
Mr. Khan was booked under Section 66A of the Information Technology Act and Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 505 (public mischief) of the IPC. Sadhna Goswami, Superintendent of Police, Rampur, said the case under Section 66A would stand nullified following the judgment.
But other charges were likely to stay. Mr. Khan’s father Awez Khan has appealed to the State government to withdraw them.
Mr. Awez Khan told The Hindu that it was a “mistake” by his son to share the fake statement in circulation online.
“The entire issue was about sharing something objectionable online and that section has been quashed by the apex court. So, I appeal and request Azam Khan’s aide to be kind to us and withdraw his complaint,” he said.
