Case booked for spreading fake news on coronavirus

An unidentified person was booked on Monday by the Hyderabad Police under various sections of the Disaster Management Act for allegedly spreading false information regarding novel coronavirus infection.

Hyderabad (Telangana): A case was booked on Monday against an unknown person for allegedly spreading fake news about coronavirus (COVID-19) in the social media, police said here.

The case was booked under section 54 (punishment for false warning) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, following a complaint by a police official who stated that one unknown person was spreading fake news about coronavirus in a local WhatsApp group, a press release from the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate said.

Further investigations were underway.

Earlier, the city police had issued a warning against spreading false information on coronavirus and asked citizens not to believe in any unverified news or messages.

Four people were tested positive for the virus in Telangana and one among them was subsequently discharged after treatment.