Mahesh Murthy, a venture capitalist has been arrested for allegedly stalking and harassing a woman on social media. He has been arrested under IPC section 354(D) (stalking) and section 67A of IT act by the police in Khar. A complaint, in this case, had been registered on December 30, 2017. NCW tweeted the news of his arrest.
Based on a complaint filed at the Commission and following NCW’s successful intervention, #MaheshMurthy has been arrested by @MumbaiPolice today u/Sec 354 IPC read with 67A of IT Act. @sharmarekha@MinistryWCD
— NCW (@NCWIndia) February 9, 2018
Mr Murthy is an investor in a self-proclaimed media watch organisation called Newslaundry. We had reported about Newslaundry’s silence regarding this issue in the past
Interestingly, Newslaundry has never reported on Murthy’s alleged misconduct and hasn’t even carried his denials. The portal had infamously tried to defend even Tarun Tejpal by questioning the woman who had made the charges but has kept mum on allegations against Murthy. In case the portal carries any views in support of their investor, we will update this article in the spirit of fairness.
It is ironical that the Mr Murthy has also criticised BJP/RSS. He tried to educate his Twitter followers about the ‘anti-women’ stance of the BJP and RSS.
You want to understand the BJP / RSS anti-women stance? pic.twitter.com/pTzU9p2H6G
— Mahesh Murthy (@maheshmurthy) April 10, 2014
He has also commented on anti- Muslim stance of BJP by clubbing it with women’s place in the home.
Yo, I’m a RSS man – we think a woman’s place is in the home and a Muslim’s place is Pakistan! pic.twitter.com/XReVTI2P1E
— Mahesh Murthy (@maheshmurthy) April 8, 2014
Our man has not spared Salman Khan as well.
“Today I wear respect” says @BeingSalmanKhan. So @BeingHuman t-shirts absolve u of beating women & killing pedestrians:)
— Mahesh Murthy (@maheshmurthy) January 17, 2013
Mahesh Murthy feels that fast track courts will not solve problems, but men have to stop thinking of women as property.
Fast-track courts & harsh sentences don’t touch the real issue: Indian men raised by families to think women are property
— Mahesh Murthy (@maheshmurthy) December 18, 2012
He also mocked Rahul Gandhi for his ‘women empowerment’ stance. While most people mock Rahul Gandhi, after recent revelations, Murthy should be the last person to comment on these issues.
Dear Rahul Gandhi how much is 2+2?
Well Arnab we should empower women and change how politics is done. Next question?
— Mahesh Murthy (@maheshmurthy) January 27, 2014
Mr Mahesh Murthy has also taken a very open pro-AAP and anti -BJP stance prior to the 2014 elections. His long post regarding the same is available at this link.
Mahesh Murthy has so many views on the behaviour of other individuals and political parties. However, he does not seem to be living up to the high standards he has set for others. On January 21, Mumbai Mirror reported that he said ‘I just sent a kiss emoji’. in defence against his behaviour. The report said :
“On 25 December 2016, the lady sent me Christmas greetings via WhatsApp and I replied with the lips emoticon. She found this message objectionable and started venting her anger on social networking sites. When I came to know about it, I apologised to her and she accepted it,” a Khar policeman quoted Murthy as saying.
We will have to wait and watch regarding as to how this case unfolds in the future.
