News channel aired fake news about Chaitanyapuri meat seller testing +ve for COVID-19

Hyderabad: A case has been lodged against a regional news channel for allegedly circulating fake news related to the spread of Coronavirus. V3 channel had aired a news report claiming that the owner of a meat shop had tested positive for the virus and had also warned all those who had purchased meat from him to be cautious.

The news channel had claimed that the owner of Jahangeer mutton shop located at Chaitanyapuri X roads had tested positive for the virus and that at least 50 people had purchased meat from his shop on Sunday. However, the news was false and there was no evidence to support the claim. It was also found that the news was aired with a malicious intention to damage the reputation of the shop and its owner.

Taking a strict note of the fake news that created panic among people, the Chaitanyapuri police of Rachakonda commissionerate registered a case against the owner of the news channel, Kacham Satyanarayana Gupta, under Section 54 of the National Disaster Management Act, 2005. Further, the police have warned of strict action against any individual, group or organisation involved in such activities.