Mumbai teacher held for uploading doctored MMS

In a major breakthrough, the cyber crime cell (CCC) of Pune police arrested a Mumbai-based teacher for his alleged involvement in uploading a doctored MMS clip fanning sentiments against North East (NE) people on YouTube. He was arrested from Kurur village in Malad (East), Mumbai, on Tuesday night.

The CCC team was led by senior inspector (cyber) Sangeeta Alphonso.

This is probably the country’s first arrest made in the investigations into the incidences of violence against NE people that rocked Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore last month.

The central agencies, Mumbai police and intelligence agencies are also probing the case.

The police say that the video clip which was circulated in order to incite people against citizens of NE threatened law and order situation not only in the state but the entire country. They alleged that the clip was circulated among members of a particular community in a most systematic manner to threaten peace and engineer riots.

The arrested man has been identified as Sharif Ahmed Bashir Siddiqui (38) of Basuwala society, Kokani Pada in Kurur village.

According to the police, Siddiqui, a science graduate and a teacher, uploaded the clip ‘Burma Riots Thrilling Picture - 2012’ on YouTube from his residence on August 10.

Speaking to DNA, DCP (cyber) Sanjay Shinde said, “On the basis of information received, our staff arrested Siddiqui. He had uploaded the doctored clip on YouTube and we have strong evidence against him. A case has been filed against him at Cantonment police station. As of now, we do not know his intention behind uploading the clip, but we are likely to extract that information during interrogations. He will be produced before the Cantonment court on Thursday.”

Siddiqui, who lives with his wife and three daughters, apart from teaching also conducts coaching classes. An investigator said, “Siddiqui told the police he had no idea that the clip would have such serious repercussions.” Police have seized a computer and a hard disk from his residence. Probe has shown he used his PC to upload the clip.