The matter has now been reported to the Cyber Cell in Sector 17, Chandigarh, where students have demanded strict action (Archive)By Abhishek GoyatA controversy has rocked Panjab University (PU) after private photographs of a student leader contesting in the upcoming campus elections were allegedly circulated through a fake Instagram account. The matter has now been reported to the Cyber Cell in Sector 17, Chandigarh, where students have demanded strict action.According to the complaint filed by student leader Sagar Khatri, the Instagram account — operating under the username of a PU official — posted private images of the candidate without consent and added objectionable remarks. “This is a clear violation of privacy and dignity,” Khatri said, calling for swift investigation.The case has been registered under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, including Section 66E (violation of privacy by publishing private images without permission) and Section 67 (circulation of obscene or defamatory content). It also attracts relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 that penalise defamation and acts intended to insult the modesty of women.Students have submitted screenshots of the posts as evidence and alleged the incident has caused “severe mental distress, humiliation, and fear of future misuse of personal data.”Several student leaders condemned the incident, describing it as a “serious cybercrime” and urging authorities to take exemplary action. “Elections should be fought on issues, not by maligning reputations. This trend of character assassination through social media is dangerous for campus democracy,” one student leader said.The Cyber Cell is investigating the matter, and efforts are on to trace the identity of the person operating the fake account.(The author is an intern with The Indian Express)Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:panjab university