Case against Tripura Cong vice-prez for sharing defamatory

The police in BJP-ruled Tripura on Wednesday registered a case against Congress vice-president Tapas Dey for sharing an alleged defamatory social media post related to Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and his wife.

Two persons were already arrested for sharing the post and a local court on Wednesday extended police custody of one of them, freelance journalist Saikat Talapatra who was charged with criminal conspiracy and defamation.

"We have registered a case against Tapas Dey in connection with a previous case against one Saikat Talapatra. Dey allegedly shared some fake news items about the CM. He has admitted having shared the news items," Deputy Inspector General Arindam Nath said.

The DIG said police has not arrested Tapas Dey.

"We are not in a hurry to arrest him. Our investigation officer will talk to him soon," Nath said.

Dey said he had shared the 'news' and asked his friends to confirm it.

"I have not passed any comment (on the post). If it is illegal, let the law take its own course. I will face the law. It is a political vendetta on me," he told reporters.

BJP spokesperson Dr Ashok Sinha said, "Tapas Dey is a very senior leader and well aware of the law. I will only say the law will take its own course.

Talapatra and a police constable were arrested on Sunday.

On Monday, the freelance journalist was remanded to three days' police custody which was extended for two more days on Wednesday. The arrested police constable had secured bail from a North Tripura district.

The Facebook post was allegedly written by one Anupam Paul who is absconding and against whom a case has been registered.