PM-CARES Fund: FIR against Sonia Gandhi for spreading rumours

New Delhi : A FIR has been filed against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for allegedly spreading rumours against the PM-CARES fund.

According to the complainant, identified as advocate KV Praveen, from Sagar in Shivamogga district of Karnataka, the Congress had put out a series of “baseless”, “false” and “misleading” allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government on May 11.

The petitioner mentioned that the tweets from the official Twitter handle of Congress have falsely claimed that the funds collected in PM-CARES has been used for personal interest rather than for the welfare of the citizens amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Congress Twitter handle has tweeted ill about PM CARES fund on May 11 for which an FIR has been lodged against the Congress president Sonia Gandhi as it had hurt the sentiments of the people of India and damaged the name of the PM,” he said in his complaint.

Identifying Sonia Gandhi as the official handler of the party’s social media account, Praveen lodged an FIR under Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the IPC (Indian Penal Code).

Responding to the FIR, Congress Karnataka Chief has asked the state BJP chief to withdraw the complaint. Shivakumar said that the complaint was driven by “political motive” and urged the BJP in state to suspend the petitioner for “misusing process of law”.