A Dubai court has ordered deportation and Rs 42.75 lakh (Dh250,000) fine on an Indian who had shared fake photos showing an Indian jewellery group celebrating Pakistan'sIndependence Day.
The Gulf News reported that the Court of First Instance in Dubai issued the verdict against the man in absentia for misusing information technology media. The court has also ordered to delete the related photos and close his Facebook profile for one year.
The Facebook post by Bineesh Murukan, 36, who hails from Kerala, had created a huge hue and cry leading to protests and boycott call against Malabar Gold and Diamonds.
Murukan, a former employee of the group was one of the many social media users in India and the UAE who trolled the company for running a competition for its customers in Dubai on Pakistan’s Independence Day.
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The newspaper report said that the case was registered against Murkuan because he had shared the facebook post even though he was aware that the event in the photo was held in another company and the people photographed are not from Malabar Gold.
Murukan is presently in detention following the verdict, his current employer told The Gulf News. As per law, he can go for an appeal against the verdict within seven days.
Shamlal Ahamed M P, managing director, International Operations, Malabar Gold and Diamonds, told the newspaper that the Dubai Public Prosecution had pursued the case suo motu.
“It was only when the verdict notification was issued that we came to know that the case was further pursued by the Dubai Public Prosecution. This verdict is a strong deterrent for people who misuse social media to defame and take revenge against individuals and companies by propagating false news. This gives confidence to companies and brands in the UAE government’s stern action against cybercrimes,” he said.
