BELAGAVI: In a major relief to a

facing

charges for his

comments

, police arrested an estranged friend of his who hacked his account and posted the messages to settle scores with him. Congressman Shafi Benne was at the receiving end of protests by right-wing outfits which demanded his arrest.

The man arrested has been identified as Nagaraj Mali, a resident of Kankanwadi in Raibag taluk. Police sources said Mali had a diploma in computers and had stolen Benne’s

password. On Saturday, he logged as Benne and posted pro-Pakistan slogans.

Following the post,

and other Hindu outfits carried out massive

rallies in Ramdurg town on Saturday. They demanded that Benne, a close associate of former MLA Ashok Pattan, be arrested immediately. On Sunday, BJP workers led by MP Suresh Angadi staged a dharna in front of the SP’s office in Belagavi. Angadi challenged the SP to arrest “anti-national” Shafi or take a transfer.

Following their complaint, Ramdurg police booked Benne for sedition, among other charges. However, they did not arrest him as he said his Facebook account had been hacked.

During preliminary investigations, police found that the reportedly offensive statements had not been posted through Benne’s device. The location of the device and the place from which the comments had been posted were different. Police tracked Mali through his handset, which he had used to post the comments.

SP Sudheerkumar Reddy said Mali and Benne had been friends but fell out during the 2018 assembly elections due to a financial dispute. Mali was an internet centre in Ramdurg town between 2013 and 2018 which was frequented by Benne. After the elections, Mali shifted to Kankanwadi and was waiting for a chance to get even with Benne, said the SP.

Taking advantage of the heightened emotions following the Pulwama terror attack, he posted the comments in Benne’s name in a bid to defame him.

Mali has now been booked for sedition and under sections of the IT Act. SP Reddy also hinted at action to be taken against those who liked and shared the objectionable post.