Gujarat transporter detained for circulating fake video on social media

A video warning container drivers of an alleged killing spree by the sarpanch of Nhava Sheva went viral, leading to the detainment of the uploader, Pankaj Ramji Giri, for spreading panic. Giri claimed that the sarpanch was seeking revenge for the death of his son. The police traced Giri to Vadodara and made him upload a rectified video, before letting him off with a notice.

Navi Mumbai: A video of 32-year-old transporter warning container drivers to be careful while going towards Nhava Sheva as the sarpanch of the village is attacking and killing went viral on WhatsApp and Instagram.

Gujarat transporter detained for circulating fake video on social media

The transporter, Pankaj Ramji Giri, 32, from Vadodara was detained on Thursday for spreading panic among other drivers.

In the video, which was uploaded on Instagram and then eventually circulated on WhatsApp, Giri asked all the drivers to be alert and careful while going towards Nhava Sheva and instructed them to share this video with everyone.

He said that even when someone steps out to answer nature’s call, the driver is being killed by attacking him from behind.

The reason behind this killing spree, Giri claimed, is that the sarpanch of Nhava Sheva lost his son in an ‘accident,’ and since then he has decided to take revenge by killing ‘111’ drivers, and no administration is doing anything about it. The situation is such that not even a policeman comes on the road at Nhava Sheva, he further claimed.

“He told us that he got WhatsApp forwards about such incidents, and hence he thought that it was important to spread awareness among the other transporters as well,” a police officer from Nhava Sheva police station said. The police then asked him to upload another video

make a video stating that the previous information he provided in the video was wrong and the rectified video was then posted by him.

The detained accused was served with a notice and let off. The case against him was registered under section 505 (statements conducing public mischief) of the IPC and section 66 (computer-related offences) of the IT Act.