UP: Samajwadi Party's media cell handler arrested for objectionable comments

Lucknow: A member of Samajwadi Party (SP) media cell was arrested by Hazratganj police on Sunday for making objectionable comments on social media, police sources said here.

To protest against the arrest, SP president Akhilesh Yadav reached the Signature building, which houses the officer of the Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh. In the meantime SP workers assembled before the DGP office and raised anti-police slogans. They were later chased away by the police.

Police sources said Manish Jagan Agarwal was arrested by the Hazratganj police in connection with an FIR lodged against him for making derogatory remarks. "The FIR was lodged on December 26, 2022 alleging that Agarwal made obscene comments against the wife of the complainant on Twitter. It was also alleged that the accused was trying to create tension in the society," they said.

Additional DGP (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said that the accused was arrested after detailed investigation, on the basis of electronic footprints and after taking information from the service providers. "The action taken by the police is legal and as per the rules," he said.

He said that the accused made tweets crossing the limits from time to time. "He even made indecent, objectionable and casteist tweets against the media persons," he said.

The ADG said that the Lucknow police had taken action as there were chances of breach in public order. On protest by SP workers, he said that all videos are available and action will be taken as per the rules.

Meanwhile, in a statement the Lucknow Police Commissionerate said that Agarwal was a named accused in a case lodged at Hazratganj police station. It said that taking legal action Agarwal has been sent to jail.

The police said that one more case was lodged against Agarwal in which a charge sheet has been filed on the basis of evidence. It may be noted that in-charge of media cell of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Dr Richa Rajput had filed a case against twitter handle in the name of SP media cell alleging that she was getting rape and life threats. (UNI)