Two arrested for doctoring an audio clip and defaming UP gov

Lucknow. On Sunday two Lucknow residents were arrested in connection with a case over a “doctored audio clip” that allegedly defamed complainant and the UP government. The case was registered in Kanpur, Police Commissioner Asim Arun said the two were produced before a magistrate and sent to judicial custody. According to the complainant Atul Kushwaha, in the “doctored audio recording” two people are heard talking about how some people are paid money for tweeting in favour of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In a statement on Sunday, the Kanpur Police said that its investigation revealed that Khushwaha and Pandey were social media promoters and competitors. “A conspiracy was hatched by Pandey to ruin Khushwaha’s business,” said the statement. According to the police, Ashish had a professional rivalry with Atul and conspired to defame him. Pandey and Saini, his employee, befriended a 15-year-old from Patna on social media, spoke to the minor over the phone, and recorded the conversations.

Himanshu and Ashish Pandey mixed the two calls and made it content worth going viral. The new audio was also shared by [retired IAS] Surya Pratap Singh, Rohini Singh, and others. The FIR was filed under IPC section 505 and Section 66 of the IT Act. In addition, three more IPC sections 465, 468 and 469 were also invoked against Pandey and Saini.