Police raids Facebook office in Mumbai for failing to co-operate in ongoing investigation
Picture Courtesy: New Indian Express
The Mangaluru City police, along with Mumbai police, searched the Facebook office in Mumbai after the social network giant failed to share information about a man booked for posting derogatory messages about a Hindu goddess.
Mangaluru City police had registered a case against the accused, who is currently absconding, and booked Facebook for non-cooperation.
Three members of the Mangaluru City police team, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Valentine D’Souza, had arrived in Mumbai with a search warrant issued by a magistrate court.
The search, at Facebook’s office in Bandra-Kurla Complex, commenced on Thursday and is expected to continue on Friday.
The cops had sought information regarding a profile, in the name of Jabbar BC Road aka Kudroli, who had posted derogatory messages about goddess Durgaparameshwari. The messages were shared on social media and sparked communal tension in the city.
Back in August, Bantwal Town police had registered a case against the derogatory posts made on Facebook in October 2015. Later, Mangaluru North police also registered a case and the two carried out a joint investigation.
Following which, police arrested Shafi Bellare (30), for his alleged involvement in the case.
According to Mangaluru police commissioner M Chandra Sekhar, to continue investigation cops had sought specific information from Facebook about the derogatory posts.
But despite sending multiple notices, the company refrained from sharing the requisite information, leaving them no option but to take a legal recourse.
After searching the company’s office, Facebook has reportedly assured Mangaluru police that the necessary information about the accused’s profile will be provided within the next 48 hours.
