VASCO
Two complaints have been lodged at Vasco police station after several derogatory posts did the rounds on social media with photos and videos of Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho and Chicalim Dy Sarpanch Aishwarya Korgaonkar.
A police complaint in this regard was filed by the Chicalim Dy Sarpanch Aishwarya Korgaonkar on Saturday evening while another police complaint was filed by Nehal Keni, the private secretary of Minister Mauvin Godinho on Sunday.
The complaint by Nehal Keni stated that irreparable harm and damage was caused to the person, image and reputation of Godinho by unknown persons with conscious, deliberate and intentional creation, circulation and further transmission, modification and continuing use of false and malicious content on various social media and online platforms.
" It was noticed on August 26, a derogatory message titled " Politician involved in sex scandal / kidnapping" was being widely circulated on social media platforms, Whatsapp and Facebook along with photographs of Mauvin Godinho and a lady who is Dy Sarpanch of Chicalim Panchayat in Dabolim constituency.
Though ,the message per se does not name any person, it is however mischievously styled to appear and read as a newspaper report and refers to false and derogatory information and is circulated with the publicly available photos of Mauvin Godinho thereby insinuating reference of the message to the photograph of Mauvin Godinho, thereby giving a grossly wrong and erroneously impression to the reader / recipient of the message and photos about the attribution of message and photographs to Mauvin Godinho, " said the complaint.
Keni said that relying on the messages and photographs, certain individuals had made videos where in attribution of the messages and photos are directly made to Godinho using abusive words against Godinho.
" Still further, certain politicians have attempted to capitalise on the grossly wrong and erroneous created by the message, photos and videos to create unrest and derive political mileage out of the patently illegal and mischievous photos, messages and videos . It therefore appears that creation, circulation, further transmission, modification and continuing use of the message ,photos and videos on various social media platforms are made with the intention to tarnish the image and cause irreparable harm to and damaging the reputation of Godinho and in fact, smacks of a wider political conspiracy against Mauvin Godinho which is required to be investigated and uncovered at the earliest " said the complaint.
Keni said that Godinho had been in public life for over 4 decades and has conducted himself with utmost integrity, respectability and prosperity and commands respect with people of all sections of society throughout the country including Goa and creation, dissemination and circulation of vulgar , derogatory and false content had caused serious uneasiness and anxiety within the supporters and followers of Godinho who have also demanded strict action against the perpetrators of messages,photos and videos.
"The creation, circulation, further transmission, modification and continuing use of message, photos and videos on various social media to insinuating derogatory and false information against Mauvin Godinho constitutes criminal offences under section 425,499 and 501 of IPC and sections 66E,66F,67 and 67A of the information technology act 2000. Further the use of filthy and abusive words in Konkani language against Godinho also constitute criminal offences under section 503 and 504 of IPC, " said the complaint.
Keni requested that the investigation be initiated immediately against the unknown perpetrators for creation, circulation, further transmission, modification and continuing use of the message, photos and videos on various social media platforms attempting to insinuate derogatory and false information against Godinho, use of filthy and abusive words against Godinho by videos on various social media platforms and prompt action be taken against the perpetrators and accused in the interest of justice.
