Ghaziabad assault case: Police slap legal notice on Twitter India chief

Ghaziabad Police have sought a reply from the Managing Director (MD) of Twitter India, Manish Maheshwari, over a viral video of an elderly man in Loni being assaulted.

Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh): Ghaziabad Police sent a legal notice to the Managing Director (MD) of Twitter India Manish Maheshwari over a viral video showing an elderly man in Loni being assaulted. The notice has been issued under Section 160 of CrPC. Maheshwari has been asked to report to the police station at Loni Border and record his statement within 7 days. "We have summoned Twitter India head Manish Maheshwari & have also asked some details from him within a week, via mail. I hope he will cooperate in the investigation. Almost all main accused have been arrested in the case. Maybe one or two are remaining, they will be arrested soon. The incident was given a communal angle, action is being taken against those involved," said Iraz Raza, the SP of Ghaziabad (Rural). It has been alleged that no action was taken by Twitter against the misleading video. Ghaziabad Police had on June 15 filed FIR against nine entities, including Twitter India, over the Loni incident, in which a man was thrashed and his beard chopped off.

"Some people used their Twitter handle as a tool to spread hatred in the society and Twitter Communication India and Twitter Inc did not take any action against it. They let the anti-social messages go viral," the legal notice read. The development comes in the wake of Twitter having lost its status as an intermediary platform in India for its non-compliance with the new IT rules. Also, Twitter can now be held directly responsible for the posts published on its platform. Earlier, the ministry said in the letter that the New Intermediary Guideline Rules have become effective from May 26.

Read:UP Police file FIR against Twitter, others over Loni incident

Ghaziabad Police seek reply from Twitter within 7 days

"The provisions for significant social media intermediaries under the Rules have already come into force on May 26 2021 and it has been more than a week but Twitter has refused to comply with the provisions of these Rules. Needless to state, such non-compliance will lead to unintended consequences including Twitter losing exemption from liability as intermediary available under section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. This has clearly been provided under rule 7 of the aforesaid Rules," it said.

Recently, a video went viral on social media where six people could be seen trashing an elderly man. The assailants also chopped off the victims' beard and it was reported that the victim was made to chant slogans like "Jai Shree Ram" and "Vande Mataram".

Read:Delhi Police interrogates Twitter India MD over 'toolkit row': Sources