FIR against Sonia Gandhi over PM-CARES tweet

An FIR has been registered against Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district of Karnataka over tweets on 11 May by the party’s official handle about PM-CARES fund. The FIR, registered under Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), identifies Gandhi as the handler of the social media account.

The complaint by advocate Praveen KV alleged that the Congress, through the tweets, has made rumourous statements against the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was trying to provoke the people against the government. According to the FIR, the Congress had on 11 May 2020 made false and baseless allegations, claimed misappropriation of PM-CARES Fund and cast aspersions on the Government of India through the tweets.