The notification has stated that a person can be tried under section 188 of the IPC for spreading misinformation or rumors or playing pranks about the deadly virus.
Pune| Pune police have warned people in Pune District of Maharashtra of legal actions if they are caught on 1st April spreading jokes, false information or pull any pranks in the pretext of coronavirus and the lockdown because of it. Police have warned against April Fool jokes and pranks on social media about the coronavirus.
The Pune rural police have issued a notification for the same.
The notification has stated that a person can be tried under section 188 of the IPC for spreading misinformation or rumors about the deadly virus.
Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) says a person can be punished for disobeying any order put in law by a public servant. The punishment includes jail term which may extend to 6 months or fine which may extend to 10,000, or both.
“On April 1, as a custom people, friends, relatives play harmless pranks with each other by spreading hoax among each other. “However, in the current situation when a lockdown is in force to contain the spread of coronavirus, people should not spread any such information or messages or rumor regarding virus and lockdown on social media which can create confusion among people and may lead to violation of lockdown,” the notification released by Pune rural Police stated.
The notification said that people spreading rumors and hoaxes on April 1st will be punished under Section 188 of the IPC.
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