Andhra Pradesh police book 60-year-old woman for post on Vizag gas leak

The Andhra Pradesh Police have booked a 60-year-old woman for posting questions on social media regarding the recent Styrene gas leak incident in Visakhapatnam. The woman in her social media account raised 20 questions such as why there were no arrests in the Vizag gas leak case and why the government allowed the leftover Styrene to be sent back to South Korea.

Amaravati:The Andhra Pradesh CID police have registered a case against a 60-year-old woman for allegedly posting in social media, questions pertaining to the recent Styrene gas leak incident in Visakhapatnam, in which 12 people lost their lives and hundreds fell ill.

The CID is also investigating the role of a man, Malladi Raghunath in the matter.

"A case has been booked against the woman, P Ranganayaki, under IPC sections 505 (2) (making statements that create or promote enmity),153 (A) (indulging in wanton vilification), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 120-B r/w 34 (criminal conspiracy)," a press release from the CID said on Tuesday.

When contacted P V Sunil Kumar, Additional DGP (CID) told that a notice under section 41 (A) of the CrPC (notice of appearance before police officer) was also served on her.

The woman in her social media account raised 20 questions such as why there were no arrests in the Vizag gas leak case and why the government allowed the leftover Styrene to be sent back to South Korea.

A senior police official claimed the woman was a TDP sympathiser.

Talking to reporters at her residence, Ranganayaki said she did not have any bad intentions and merely shared a post put by her friend.

"I took permission from my friend and copy-pasted it. I don't have any bad intentions. I do not know if my post is so offensive," she said.

TDP chief and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu condemned the case against the elderly woman and said she has been served notice by the CID for speaking out against the government.

Meanwhile, police warned people not to indulge in false propaganda against the government or its machinery
leading to law and order problems.

(PTI REPORT)