Goa-based actor Gaurav Bakshi has been booked by the Goa police on charges of circulating misinformation after he uploaded a video on social media claiming that the state government and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant were “responsible for the reduction of forest cover in Goa”.
The FIR was registered at the Crime Branch police station on July 2 based on a complaint from the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Headquarters), Forest Department.
The FIR states that Bakshi made a video alleging that the CM was responsible for Goa’s reduced forest cover, and adds, “It has also been alleged that the government has destroyed the forest cover in Goa by acting against the direction of the Supreme Court of India.”
The FIR said the video was circulated on social media, and it “appears to be posted with the intent to cause fear or alarm to the public against the government, thereby affecting public tranquillity”.
The complainant said the allegations made by Bakshi in a Facebook video are “prima facie baseless and misleading as the Honourable Supreme Court order and orders of other courts are scrupulously followed and complied by the state government, and the issue regarding finalisation of private forests in Goa is dealt strictly as per the norms and guidelines fixed by the state government…”
The FIR was lodged under sections of promoting enmity and public mischief.
The video was posted on June 28. In a statement to the press, Bakshi said he was on holiday with his family when he learnt that an FIR had been registered.
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Bakshi, who is also an activist, said the “crime branch has been coming to my residence daily” and that he has approached the magistrate for anticipatory bail.
Bakshi told The Indian Express, “Instead of addressing the serious issues of economy and ecology, the government of Goa has been peddling lies to Goans, ensuring large-scale destruction to hills, paddy fields and forests. I have been highlighting many such issues. This FIR is another attempt to stop me.”
Rahul Gupta, SP, Crime Branch, responded, “A police team had gone to serve him notice as per the provisions of BNSS, but he is not accepting the notice and not appearing at the Crime Branch.”
In July last year, the Goa police had arrested Bakshi after he allegedly had a brief confrontation with the personal security officer of Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar over a parking issue.
