Fake Facebook account for Uttarakhand relief busted

On the day the Uttarakhand government claimed that relief and rescue operations in the flood-hit state were officially over, the Delhi Police registered a case against unknown persons for seeking rehabilitation money in the name of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

On the day the Uttarakhand government claimed that relief and rescue operations in the flood-hit state were officially over, the Delhi Police registered a case against unknown persons for seeking rehabilitation money in the name of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

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The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a case of cheating according to relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act and also on the basis of a complaint alleging misuse of the IAF logo and name to seek donations on a Facebook page, said SD Mishra, additional DCP (EOW).

"According to a complaint received from an IAF personnel, the said page, which is illegal and unauthorised, sought donations for relief operations in Uttarakhand on July 1," said an officer. "On the said date, a moderator of the page posted a statement saying 'Team IAF FB will be making a donation towards the Uttarakhand flood relief, if you are willing to make a contribution, do transfer your desired contribution to the following bank account'."

An account number was mentioned below the said post prompting the IAF to intimate the police before the scheme could materialise. The online post has been removed from the page. Investigations pertaining to the author of the post are underway. The said post, sources in the EOW said, had also appeared on a separate Facebook page but was removed within a day. "We are yet to ascertain whether or not donations were sent to the said bank account," said the officer.