Till now up to 50 criminal cases have been filed against alleged ‘rumor mongerers’ on Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa’s health status. Since a week neither doctors nor her party workers have shared any update on her health and police has made it clear that a a team of cyber experts will track, identify and punish those posting rumours or misinformation on social media in Tamil Nadu.
Eight people have been arrested out of the 50 and the list includes two men who work at a bank in Coimbatore. They asked a customer at the bank who is from Jayalalithaa’s party about her health and then allegedly made remarks that exaggerated the her condition.
“Users of social media are advised not to spread false, malicious and motivated information regarding the health condition of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Stern action will be taken against the culprits, if any such content is noticed,” said the police, warning that the maximum punishment is seven years in jail.
Jayalalithaa, 68, was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai on September 22 when her party said she had fever and was dehydrated. But doctors later confirmed that she’s on respiratory support with a lung infection. A UK specialist has flown down three times to supervise her treatment. A trio of doctors from Delhi’s AIIMS hospital also travelled to Chennai to check on the Chief Minister.
