Authorities in Bengaluru have taken serious legal action against the circulation of alarming fake news concerning a key city infrastructure project. The Bengaluru Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) targeting unknown individuals responsible for creating and spreading a false narrative about dangerous cracks appearing on the newly constructed Ejipura flyover.
Police Action Against Misinformation
The FIR was officially filed at the Koramangala police station on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Law enforcement acted swiftly following a formal complaint lodged by the Executive Engineer of the Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BSCL), the agency overseeing the flyover project. The complaint highlighted the malicious creation and viral spread of digitally altered images and videos that falsely depicted significant structural damage to the flyover.
This decisive move by the police underscores a growing crackdown on digital misinformation that can cause public panic and erode trust in civic infrastructure. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to circulating content with intent to cause alarm among the public.
Officials Confirm Structural Integrity
In response to the viral hoax, senior engineers and officials from BSCL conducted an immediate and thorough inspection of the entire Ejipura flyover structure. Their investigation yielded a clear and definitive conclusion. No structural cracks or defects were found on the flyover. The officials attributed the visual anomalies in the fake media to normal construction joints and water stains, which were grossly misrepresented.
The Ejipura flyover is a critical piece of infrastructure designed to alleviate chronic traffic congestion in the Koramangala and surrounding areas. In their public statements, BSCL engineers emphasized that the flyover is completely safe for all vehicular traffic and was built adhering to the highest safety standards and protocols.
The Dangers of Viral Engineering Fake News
This incident is not an isolated one in Bengaluru or India at large, where fake news related to engineering failures, building collapses, or bridge cracks often goes viral on social media platforms. Such misinformation campaigns have severe consequences. They can trigger unnecessary fear, lead to traffic diversions and chaos based on false premises, and ultimately damage the reputation of responsible civic bodies.
The police are now actively investigating the origins of the fabricated content. They are pursuing digital trails to identify the individuals or groups who first created and disseminated the misleading images. This FIR serves as a strong warning that creating and spreading fake news, especially concerning public safety, is a punishable offense with serious legal ramifications.
Citizens are urged to exercise caution and verify information from official government or municipal sources before believing and sharing alarming content related to public infrastructure. The authorities have reiterated that any genuine concerns about civic structures should be reported through formal channels for prompt verification and action, rather than being amplified through unverified social media posts.
