Congress Seva Dal seeks case against Bhaskar Rao over ‘fake news’ on Dhruv Rathee

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Seva Dal Young Brigade has urged Home Minister Priyank Kharge to initiate legal action against BJP leader and IPS officer Bhaskar Rao (retd) for allegedly spreading false information about YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.

In a representation dated October 10, Junaid P.K., president of the Brigade, alleged that Mr. Rao had created doubts about Mr. Rathee’s nationality by suggesting that he could be a foreign national.

The representation said Mr. Rathee had participated as the chief guest at the Janadesh convention held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on October 8. The event was organised in support of protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process, including the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Mr. Rao had written to the Union Home Ministry seeking verification of Mr. Rathee’s entry and exit records and examination of whether provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, had been violated.

The Brigade claimed that Mr. Rathee was an Indian citizen and alleged that the claims questioning his nationality were intended to spread misinformation and gain publicity.