The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police in Bengaluru have arrested two individuals for allegedly harassing former Congress Member of Parliament and Kannada actor Ramya on social media using derogatory language.
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Authorities identified the suspects as Obanna T (25) from Vijayanagar, and Gangadhar from Chikkaballapura. Both are daily wage labourers.
Police said the two men used Instagram handles @robertraghav5\_d\_boss\_tj and @darshan\_thoogudeepa\_\_\_ to post vulgar comments directed at Ramya. The online harassment reportedly began after she posted on social media about the Supreme Court proceedings in the Renukaswamy murder case, in which Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa is an accused. Both suspects are reported to be fans of the actor.
Ramya filed a complaint on July 28 with Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh. Following the arrests, Singh said investigators had identified 11 more individuals involved in similar online activity.
“From the investigation so far, the direct involvement of these 11 people is found,” Singh said, adding that strict legal action would be taken against anyone engaging in such behavior on social media.
Ramya expressed gratitude for the police response in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “I thank our Home Minister Dr Parameshwar avru @DrParameshwara and Seemant Kumar Singh avru @seemantsingh96 Commissioner of Police Bengaluru @CPBlr and the entire team at CCB for the swift action taken on the complaint.”
In her complaint, Ramya listed 43 social media accounts that had allegedly sent her abusive and derogatory messages.
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The police have registered a case under Sections 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) and 66C (identity theft) of the Information Technology Act, and under Sections 351 (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 75 (sexual harassment), and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.