The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has taken suo motu cognisance of a social media post by the Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Malviya, accusing him of violating the Juvenile Justice Act by disclosing the identity of a deceased minor girl from South 24 Parganas.
The Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Malviya, who heads the BJP’s IT cell, and asked him to respond within three days. According to the Commission, Malviya’s social media post violated Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which strictly prohibits the disclosure of any information that could lead to the identification of a minor involved in any legal matter.
The controversy stems from a recent incident in South 24 Parganas, where a minor girl was found dead. On June 19, Malviya posted on social media, alleging that the girl had been raped and murdered and included a blurred image of the deceased in his post.
Malviya’s post sharply criticised the law and order situation in West Bengal, claiming that women were unsafe under the current regime. However, the West Bengal police refuted the claim of sexual assault, stating that initial autopsy reports pointed to poisoning as the probable cause of death.
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Superintendent of Police for Baruipur Police District, Palash Chandra Dhali, confirmed that the autopsy revealed poison in the girl’s stomach. While there were some injury marks on her body, he said, “There is no evidence of sexual assault.” The investigation began after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint with the local police station.
The Commission stated that Malviya’s post, despite blurring the photo, led to identification of the minor, thereby violating child protection laws. Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act mandates that no name, address, school details, photograph or any information that could reveal a child’s identity in such cases be made public.
The WBCPCR in its statement said, “Amit Malviya’s post directly contributed to revealing the identity of a deceased minor, which is a punishable offence under the Juvenile Justice Act.” The Commission has initiated proceedings and is expected to take further steps based on Malviya's response.
The incident has triggered political tensions, as Malviya is known for his frequent criticism of the West Bengal government via social media, particularly concerning law and order and crimes against women. The BJP has not yet officially responded to the Commission’s action.
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