JOIN USMulti-media news agency Asian News International (ANI) on Tuesday filed a complaint against an unknown person over a “photoshopped” tweet concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attributing it to the agency.
“We have received a complaint from ANI. An FIR will be registered on Wednesday after we receive detailed information,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajneesh Garg said. He said someone had posted “a photoshopped tweet impersonating ANI.”
The complaint was made both to the Economic Offences Wing and the cyber wing of Delhi Police.
The fake tweet read: “My love for Germany goes decade back. When I was a small boy in Guj (Gujarat) my only friend was a German Shephard: PM #ModiInGermany.” Modi was in Germany on Tuesday as part of his three-nation visit.
ANI quickly responded after the tweet surfaced and made it clear that they had nothing to do with it. “This is a photoshopped tweet. ANI has got nothing to do with it. Legal action will be taken against those responsible,” it said.
As the tweet created a buzz, ANI’s editor (news) Smita Prakash tweeted: “This is a photoshopped tweet by @ankitlal. ANI did not tweet it nor did the PM say it.”
Lal, who is an online activist and helped AAP in its social media campaign during the Delhi election, tweeted back: “@smitaprakash, the kind of things Modiji is speaking on tour, I didn’t find the statement exceptional. That’s why tweeted without verifying.”
“@smitaprakash. However I do realise that I should have verified the authenticity of the Tweet which I didn’t and my apologies fr it.”
Through its Twitter account, ANI@ANI-news, the news agency also confirmed to have filed a formal complaint with Delhi Police.
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