Telangana Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy on Wednesday issued a stern warning against character assassination and the misuse of social media platforms, reiterating that strict legal action would be taken against those who cross the limits of the law.
In a statement issued in Hyderabad on Wednesday (January 14), the DGP said he had earlier laid down guidelines on responsible use of social media and cautioned that violations would invite firm action.
Mr. Reddy said the police would initiate legal proceedings against anyone found indulging in character assassination, damaging the reputation of others or targeting individuals under the guise of social media activity. He made it clear that the spread of false news, baseless allegations, circulation of fake content and attempts to interfere in the personal lives of individuals or their family members would not be tolerated.
At the same time, the DGP said the police had no objection to constructive criticism or opinions expressed within the framework of the law. However, he warned that if social media platforms were misused to spread falsehoods or malign individuals, those responsible would face strict legal consequences.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar also weighed in on the issue, taking to X to strongly condemn attacks on women through social media, television and other platforms. He said criticism and scrutiny were part of public life, but maligning any woman, whether a public servant, a professional in the private sector or a homemaker, was not criticism but cruelty, and was unacceptable.
Mr. Sajjanar said women today were leading from the front in administration, policing, governance, science, public life and the media, while also shouldering major responsibilities at home that often go unnoticed. Attacking their character, he said, amounted to attacking the very idea of progress.
He warned that a society that fails to respect women, particularly those in leadership roles, undermines its own future, asserting that such humiliation and prejudice would not be tolerated.
Curated by Shiv Shakti Mishra
