KOZHIKODE: Transgender make-up artist and social media influencer Jaanmoni Das was arrested by Kozhikode Cyber Police on Thursday over alleged derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his family in a video linked to protests over the NEET question paper leak, police said.
Das and two others who had shared the video on social media were summoned by the cyber police, questioned and arrested, officials said.
After evidence collection, interrogation and other procedures were completed, all three were released on bail.
The case followed a complaint filed by BJP Mahila Morcha state president Navya Haridas on July 27.
According to police, Das allegedly made the remarks in the context of protests over the NEET question paper leak.
A video containing the alleged remarks subsequently circulated widely on social media.
After the video triggered a controversy, Das posted an apology and said the remarks were made because of a lack of knowledge of the language.
The case has been registered under Sections 192 (provocation for causing riot) and 356(2) (criminal defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 120(o) (causing nuisance) of the Kerala Police Act.
Police said all the offences invoked in the case are bailable.
Das, who had shot into the limelight after appearing on a popular Malayalam reality show a few years ago, spoke to reporters after leaving the police station and said she had provided investigators with all the information they sought.
She alleged that the case was an act of revenge over her participation in a Cockroach Janata Party protest in New Delhi against the NEET question paper leak.
Das said the controversial video did not contain her own statement and claimed that she had only translated into another language a statement made by someone else in Hindi.
“That was not my statement. I just translated what another person said. It shouldn’t have come from my mouth, and I have apologised for it. But still, people are targeting and bullying me,” Das said.
She also said she was not a politician and had travelled to New Delhi to take part in the protest after several students from Kerala participated in it.
Courtesy : TOI
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