Mangaluru : Dakshina Kannada police on Thursday suo motu registered a case against the reporter of a Kannada daily in Bantwal for spreading false information through social media.

The arrested has been identified as Imthiaz Thumbay, Bantwal taluk reporter of Vartha Bharati Kannada daily.

The reporter has been booked under Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot — if rioting be committed — if not committed) and Section 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code, according to C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Superintendent of Police. The police are now questioning the reporter.

The case pertained to posts on social media regarding police allegedly disrespecting a holy book during search operations at the house of a murder accused near Bantwal on Saturday.

The footage of the holy book thrown aside during the raid went viral on social media on Saturday evening, after the search operations of Bantwal police at the house of Kalandar, an accused in the murder of RSS activist Sharath Madiwala. Soon Mr. Reddy clarified that the police had not done this as they respect holy books of all religions. He also asked those making allegations to watch the video recorded available with the police.