Patna,(BiharTimes): A case has been registered against a former Bihar MLA for spreading rumours on WhatsApp about earthquake.According to police Dayanand Rai, the former MLA from Narpatganj in Araria district, was spreading rumours about earthquake through social messaging. He has been made an accused of spreading rumours that a high-intensity earthquake (13.5 on Richter scale) could strike again on Saturday night following which people started rushing towards a park.

An FIR was registered against Rai at the Sachivalay police station under Section 505 of IPC on Saturday night following a complaint by Station House Officer (SHO) of Sachivalay police station, Amrendra Kumar Jha. Jha said in his complaint that he saw people rushing towards a park on Saturday. When he asked them why, they quoted a WhatsApp message which predicted an earthquake of 13.5 intensity on Saturday night. Further inquiries into who circulated the message turned the needle of suspicion to Rai. According to Jha he spoke to Rai, who was away in Delhi, but the latter could not give a satisfactory answer. Patna SSP Jintender Rana said police would take action not only against those who create such messages but also against those who are forwarding such messages.