Kerala: WhatsApp forward that got the wedding cancelled
What's the story
The threat of fake news forwarded on WhatsApp is real. A Kerala woman, however, just didn't sit back as one forward message caused her trouble. The woman got the rumor monger arrested after he circulated a hoax voice note on messaging app about her 'plans' to 'elope' with another man. The message had also reached her fiance of few months who called off the wedding.
The start of hoax
Arrested man says he mistook woman for someone else
The arrested man, a resident of Chelakkulam district, is a 35-year-old Shihab. The police said he saw the woman, a student from Aluva in Ernakulam district, standing at a bus stop with her male friend. Shihab then clicked a photo (of the head-scarf wearing woman) and circulated the false news about their eloping plans. Shihab claims he mistook the woman for someone else.
Details
Rumor-monger Shihab booked under IT act
Speaking of the case, the police said the 20-year-old woman filed a complaint. With cyber cell's help, Shihab was arrested on Saturday. They added, "This particular message also reached the woman's fiance (who lives abroad) and his family, following which they called off the wedding." Shihab has been charged under sections of the IT act.