Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Regarding the complaint registered by the Managing Director of GCMMF (Amul) concerning fake news spread over the Tirupati prasadam row, Dr. Lavina Sinha (DCP Cyber Crime) says, “We have lodged an FIR, after which we have started investigating seven accounts.… pic.twitter.com/ACM95m9Wpa
— IANS (@ians_india) September 21, 2024
Several users on X falsely accused Amul of replacing Nandini as the supplier of ghee to the temple. They claimed Amul’s ghee contained animal fats. Amul quickly issued a statement, clarifying it had never supplied ghee to Tirupati temple, but the rumors persisted, primarily among politically motivated accounts.
GCMMF Launches Legal Battle for Amul
Hemant Gauni, Deputy General Manager (Sales) at GCMMF, lodged a formal complaint with the Cyber Crime department of Ahmedabad Police on September 20. He identified multiple posts on X that falsely accused Amul of supplying adulterated ghee to the temple. Gauni stated that these posts aimed to damage Amul’s reputation and create distrust among its customers.
The FIR targets seven X handles: ‘Spirit of Congress’, ‘Banjara1991’, ‘chandanAIPC’, ‘SecularBengali’, ‘rahul_1700’, ‘profapm’, and ‘prettypadmaja’. These users actively spread false claims about Amul’s involvement, according to the complaint.
Police Step Up Investigation
Dr. Lavina Sinha, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Cyber Crime, confirmed that investigators are looking into other accounts and have requested additional information from X and Meta. “This coordinated spread of fake news clearly sought to defame a trusted brand,” she said. The FIR invokes sections 336 (4) (Forgery), 196(1A) (Promoting Enmity), and several provisions under the Information Technology Act.
Amul Responds to Baseless Accusations
Jayen Mehta, Managing Director of GCMMF, condemned the rumors and reiterated that Amul never supplied ghee to the Tirupati temple. He emphasized the importance of taking legal action to prevent further harm from false claims. “Our products are known for their quality, and we won’t allow falsehoods to jeopardize the trust we’ve built. We will hold those responsible accountable,” Mehta stated.
Social Media Users Backtrack
After GCMMF filed the FIR, several X users, including ‘Spirit of Congress’ and Vidya, the social media general secretary for Mumbai Congress, deleted their posts. Despite these removals, many tweets containing the same misinformation remain visible. Investigators continue to monitor these accounts as part of the ongoing investigation.
Social Media Accountability
This controversy over the Tirupati laddus and the false claims against Amul have underscored the risks of unchecked misinformation on social media platforms. With fake news spreading rapidly, even trusted brands like Amul find themselves battling reputational crises. GCMMF’s decision to pursue legal action highlights the need for accountability.
As the investigation unfolds, more users linked to the spread of false claims may face legal consequences. For now, Amul’s response serves as a crucial example of how companies can combat misinformation in the digital age while protecting their reputation and consumer trust.