BENGALURU: A complaint has been filed against Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge, accusing him of “circulating fake news and misleading information” and “attempting to disturb social harmony”, police said on Wednesday.The complaint was filed by Tejas A Gowda at Banashankari police station on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.He sought registration of an FIR against Kharge for allegedly attempting to link the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the recent seizure of live cartridges through a social media post on X.In his written complaint, Gowda alleged that Kharge’s post attempted to associate the RSS with the seizure of approximately 44,250 live cartridges in Bihar and Haryana.“Through his statements and insinuations, he has sought to create an impression that the RSS organisation is connected with the alleged criminal activities,” Gowda alleged.However, the complainant has not specified whether he is associated with the organisation, PTI reported.Gowda further alleged that the home minister knowingly circulated the information despite knowing it to be false. He claimed that such conduct warranted a criminal investigation as it could disturb communal harmony in the state by spreading fake news.“It is a matter of serious concern that a person occupying the constitutional office of Home Minister, who is entrusted with maintaining law and order and protecting public peace, is circulating false information against an organisation,” the complainant alleged.He urged the police to register an FIR against Kharge under applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot), 196 (promoting enmity between different groups) and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief), if the information and accompanying evidence disclosed cognisable offences, PTI reported.The complainant also urged investigators to conduct a fair and independent probe without political interference.He requested investigating officers to secure electronic records of the social media posts, coordinate with police authorities in Bihar and Haryana to obtain details of the cases, and verify whether false information was knowingly disseminated.Police said no FIR had been registered in the matter yet, though the complaint had been submitted.(With agency inputs)
