Coimbatore college registers case against Kerala-based news portal over fake news on crash that killed CDS Bipin Rawat, 12 others

Chennai: Coimbatore-based Nehru Group of Institutions has registered a case against a Kerala-based YouTube channel for showing a video of their fresher's day celebration as visuals of DJ parties organised to celebrate the death of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat who was killed in a chopper crash few days before.

The channel, according to the Coimbatore-based college in its complaint, had aired a three-minute video depicting students of a particular community studying in Coimbatore college celebrating the death of the General and other Armed Forces personnel in the crash.

The video goes on to allege that celebrations happened in Coonoor, Ooty, Thudiyalur, Peelamedu and Kuniyamuthur with a clear malicious intent to defame Coimbatore and Tamilnadu in general.

After the video went viral, the police commenced an investigation on the same. College management, however, clarified that the video was shot on December 7, a day prior to the crash which took place on December 8, and that the students were celebrating the fresher's day in College.

The management also clarified that on December 9 the whole college had mourned the sad demise of CDS General Rawat and other personnel.

The Tamil Nadu Police have started an investigation against the Kerala-based YouTube channel based on the complaint filed by the Coimbatore college on Sunday. The police have already communicated to the Kerala Police on the channel and a team of Tamil Nadu Police is to travel to Kerala in a few days' time for investigating the case.

A senior officer with the Coimbatore police told IANS, "It is totally fake news and how can someone air such news depicting students of a particular community celebrating the death of the General and others in the crash. It would lead to communal polarisation and stringent action will be taken against the channel office-bearers."