The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– Dec 8, 2022; Day 384

Extreme measure: On false claims and arrests

Not every instance of sharing false news requires arrest and remand (The act of sending an accused person back into custody to await trial (or the continuation of the trial))

A political party’s spokesman has been arrested for sharing an apparently (Unmistakably; visibly clear) false claim about the expenditure involved in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Morbi in Gujarat, in November, in the aftermath (The consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event)) of the collapse of a bridge that caused nearly 140 deaths. Even if the claim that a fabulous (Barely credible) sum of money was spent on preparations and the renovation of facilities for the visit was false, the arrest of Saket Gokhale, spokesman of the All India Trinamool Congress, is in striking (Sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect) contrast to the fact that the promoters and executives of the company, whose negligence could have caused the recently renovated bridge to collapse, have not been detained so far. It is difficult not to highlight the irony (Contrary to plan or expectation) involved, as the penal sections invoked against Mr. Gokhale for the offence of forgery (Criminal falsification by making or altering an instrument with intent to defraud) attract prison terms of two to three years only; whereas the acts of commission and omission that led to such a high fatality (A death resulting from an accident or a disaster) figure are punishable with prison terms ranging from 10 years to life. Nothing but an intention to teach a lesson to an Opposition political activist can explain the arrest of Mr. Gokhale when he could, instead, have been summoned for an inquiry. It is one of those cases in which arrest is obviously avoidable, even if the government of the day is seriously aggrieved (Angry or resentful due to unfair treatment) by the purported (Have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming) falsehood in the claim that he shared on Twitter.

That police custody was sought and obtained in a case in which not much is needed to be investigated or unearthed (Find, discover or bring to light after significant investigation or search) — except perhaps the provenance (Where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence) of the purported Right to Information reply that contained the false claim — is quite strikingly indicative of vendetta (a strong desire to harm a person or group, often because of political reasons or feelings of hate). Another aspect, which is taking place with disturbing frequency, is the fact that the Gujarat police went to Jaipur in time to detain Mr. Gokhale and bring him to Ahmedabad. It is disconcerting (Causing an emotional disturbance) that provisions relating to the inter-State operation of criminal law allow anyone to be held by the police from another State with ease, especially when the arrest is required by a State in which the Bharatiya Janata Party is the ruling party. It is not clear if the jurisdiction police were informed about the impending (Close in time; about to occur) arrest. The dissemination (The opening of a subject to widespread discussion and debate) of fake news is indeed a formidable (Extremely impressive in strength or excellence) problem in times when social media are a major source of information. That those with a significant following on these platforms should exercise due care before sharing information they receive is also not in doubt. However, it is questionable whether every instance of the dissemination of possibly false information should lead to arrest, unless grave consequences are likely to arise. An official fact-check and a legal takedown may well meet the ends of justice.

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