Mangaluru: Police book suo motu case over alleged misinformation in SDPI protest video

Mangaluru: Police book suo motu case over alleged misinformation in SDPI protest video

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, December 22, 2025: Police have registered a suo motu case after video clips from a protest meeting organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Mangaluru were circulated on social media.

The clips are alleged to contain misleading information and selective references to court judgments. According to a police press release, the SDPI held a protest meeting in Mangaluru on Friday, December 19. After the video clips went viral on social media platforms, authorities reviewed the content and found that certain statements presented only selective portions of judgments delivered by various courts.

Police said such selective presentation could mislead the public and create confusion. In this connection, a suo motu complaint has been registered at the Bantwal Rural Police Station.

An investigation is under way, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings, the police said, adding that further details would be shared after completion of the preliminary inquiry.

The press release noted that selectively quoting court judgments could lead to distorted interpretations and create an impression that the SDPI is involved in anti-national or terrorist activities. It questioned whether such conclusions can be drawn merely on the basis of selective readings of judicial orders.

As an example, the release referred to a May 2023 Karnataka High Court order dismissing a petition that had challenged the seizure of the SDPI Mangaluru office under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). It questioned whether the dismissal of that petition alone could be construed as proof that the organisation is involved in terrorist activities.

The release also mentioned that in a previous communal murder case in the district, an SDPI gram panchayat member is an accused and is currently in jail, with courts having rejected his bail applications. Citing such cases and court orders selectively to portray the SDPI as an organisation involved in conspiracy and murder, or to demand the resignation of all its members, would be misleading, the police said.

Police stated that the selective presentation of court verdicts amounts to the spread of false or misleading information. The press release appealed to protesters to critically examine such claims themselves and urged the public to remain cautious against attempts to create confusion through selective narratives.