LUCKNOW: An embarrassing situation emerged when an online public meeting of the education department, chaired by the Maharajganj district magistrate, was suddenly disrupted as a pornographic video was played and objectionable remarks were made by unidentified participants.
The incident took place during an e-Chaupal session conducted via an online portal on August 7.
An FIR against two unidentified persons was registered on Monday, and an investigation was launched.
The meeting was attended by Maharajganj district magistrate Santosh Kumar Sharma, basic education officer, block education officers, headmasters, government teachers, and members of the public. The session was meant to facilitate direct communication between the public and the DM on school-related issues, officials said.
According to sources, during the meeting, a participant using the name ‘Jason Junior’ shared his screen and played a pornographic video, following which officials exited the session. Another participant, identified as ‘Arjun’, allegedly made objectionable remarks, added the sources.
Subsequently, following the orders of basic education officer Riddhi Pandey, block education officer (Farenda) Sudama Prasad filed a complaint against two unidentified persons at Kotwali police station of Maharajganj on August 9.
Kotwali SHO Satyendra Rai said a probe was being conducted with the assistance of cybercrime experts.
Rai said an FIR was lodged under Sections 221 (obstruction in discharge of duty of a public servant), 352 (intentional insult) of IPC and 67A of the IT Act 2000 (transmitting material containing sexually explicit acts in electronic form).
“We are utilising technical means to identify the culprits. This incident not only disrupted an administrative meeting but also amounted to cybercrime. The culprits will be identified, and appropriate action will be initiated,” said the police officer.
Meanwhile, Maharajganj district administration described the incident as a breach of decorum and a cybercrime. Action was initiated to prevent a repeat of such incidents in the future and to maintain the dignity of administrative meetings.