Bengaluru, June 28: Hacking of Facebook accounts, asking for money, and posting derogatory posts is increasing in recent times. It is said that there is a systematic network working behind it. The Karnataka High Court has also expressed such doubts to give impetus to it.
The High Court said that a large network seems to be working behind the cases of hacking Facebook accounts and posting derogatory and abusive posts. Justice Krishna S. A single-member bench headed by Dixit directed that the Ministry of External Affairs should submit a report on the steps taken so far in connection with the case of Janardana Saliana Shailesh Kumar, a resident of Mangalore who has been sentenced to jail in Saudi Arabia on charges of blasphemy.
Also, it warned the state government that the cyber police should take more vigilance and track down the criminals on allegations of creating fake Facebook accounts and posting opinions and comments. The bench on Tuesday heard the petition filed by Kavitha, wife of Shailesh Kumar, a resident of Mangalore’s Bikarnakate.
‘It is not enough to do business only by letter. Our police must demonstrate the agility and skill of the police in Scotland and the Mossad. This is an example of an Indian citizen’s life being at risk in a foreign land. If so, what will be the situation of Indians abroad tomorrow?’ The court asked bitterly.
Life should not be endangered: Saudi Arabia ranks among India’s favorite foreign countries. In such a situation, the case of innocent citizen Janardana Saliya should be treated in the same manner as the stand taken by India in the case of Kulbhushan. In such cases it said that our affairs should be conducted in accordance with the Vienna Convention.
Also, it should be noted that when a citizen of our country is in danger abroad, the High Court, which is the highest court of the state, has taken care of it. So it directed the Center to appeal to the government there to ensure that there is no danger to Janardhana’s life.
Background of the case: Saliana Shailesh Kumar, 45 years old, Janardhana of Bikarnakatta, Mangalore has been employed at Al Kuber in Saudi Arabia for 25 years. Wife and children live in Bikarnakatta. Shailesh had posted on his Facebook in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Registration Act (NRC) enacted by the central government in 2019. Due to this he received threats from anonymous people. So, he deleted his Facebook account.
In February 2020, anonymous persons had opened a fake Facebook account in the name of Shailesh Kumar and posted derogatory posts in the name of the ruler of Saudi Arabia and his religion. Shailesh had informed his friends and relatives in Mangalore before this came to his notice.
Meanwhile, Saudi police arrested Shailesh. In this regard, wife Kavitha filed a complaint in Mangalore. The Mangalore police, who had taken up the investigation, had written a letter to the Meta-Facebook organization and requested them to provide information about the person who had opened a fake account in the name of Shailesh. Similarly, I have also submitted a request to the central government to take action to release my innocent husband from the Saudi jail. He had moved the High Court in 2021 protesting that the police was conducting the investigation at a slow pace.
