The UP government has initiated a seldom-used law, the Police Incitement to Disaffection Act, against unknown people for rallying behind the alleged murderer Prashant Chaudhary, involved in the murder of an Apple executive in the intervening night of 28 and 28 September 2018.
According to the report, since the arrest of the accused Prashant Chaudhary, social media was abuzz with sympathetic posts seeking financial and legal support to help Prashant in fighting the case. On Wednesday, the DGP described these notorious attempts to aid the alleged murderer as a ploy to derail the murder investigation and malign UP police. A police constable in Etah district was suspended on grounds of indiscipline for his alleged Facebook post supporting Chaudhary.
Invoking the Police Incitement to Disaffection Act, the government has also suspended a constable named Sarvesh Chaudhary, posted in Rae Bareli for extending his support to Prashant on his social media page. IN his 11 minute video, Sarvesh reportedly claims that he had offered and been collecting money for Chaudhary while taking a dig at the police officers and the government.
Addressing the media, DIG (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar ruled out resentment amongst the police force and added that the constables who were sacked in 2012 after irregularities were detected in recruitment have joined hands with the criminal elements to defame the police force. He said that social media activities of policemen were under scanner and action would be taken against those policemen who violate the service rules under Police Incitement to Disaffection Act