Tweeters Arrested for Harassing Playback Singer Chinmayi

Off late, there has been an increase in cases of people being abusive/defamatory hiding behind the cloak of anonymity of online world. Chinmayi Sripada (@Chinmayi), a renowned Indian playback singer and one of the most conversational celebrity on Twitter, has been facing harassment from such cyber bullies/trolls for the last two years.

An associate professor teaching at the government-run National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai and a State Government employee from Avinashi, Coimbatore working at the Tirupur collectorate, were arrested on Monday by the cyber cops in connection with an online harassment complaint lodged by Chinmayi

On 18th October, Chinamayi filed a complaint that some people had been harassing her on Twitter. The tweets, which were vile in nature, target both Chinmayi and her mother. These tweets were published from the twitter handles: @rajanleaks, @Senthilchn, @Asharavkay, @losongelesram and @vivajilal thyirvadai.

The problem started two years ago after they included me in a hash tag fishermen concerned and wanted to support the cause. I did not fulfill the requirement, because there were a lot of vulgar comments about the leaders,

said Chinmayi to The Hindu.

They even passed vulgar comments on my mother. Most of my tweets were misquoted to give a feeling that I am against Tamil, Tamil Tweeters and bloggers and also against Sri Lankan Tamils. Some even started tagging me on Facebook,

she said, adding: “Finally, I decided to seek police help.”

Chinmayi then lodged an online harassment complaint against six persons at the city police commissioner’s office on Thursday. Based on her complaint, a case was registered under section 66-A of the Information Technology Act and Section 4 of Prevention of Women Harassment Act by the Cyber Crime Cell of Chennai City Police.

During investigation of one tweet was posted by @Sharankay, police traced his IP address and found that the professor was identified as Saravana Kumar Perumal, an architect residing in Madi­pakkam and he had tweeted from his mobile and desktop at home.

He has been arrested under the Information Technology Act 2005 and Prevention of Women Harassment Act.

One more person called Rajan has been nabbed in Coimbatore and is being brought to Chennai. He works at the Tirupur Collectorate. Special teams have been sent to Puducherry to nab another suspect

said the Commissioner.

A case has been registered under sections of the IT Act and prevention of woman harassment Act. The police have identified three more people who had made obscene comments about Chinmayi.

Chinmayi said it was important for women to stand up against injustice and that they should approach the cops when harassed online.