“Let’s treat them the way they deserve to be treated. Trolling a seven-month-old baby, for his colour, for his religion, this is beyond disgusting,” said actress.
Mumbai: Television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee has taken a strong stand against online trolling after her 7-month-old son, Joy, was targeted on social media for his skin tone. The actress recently shared a picture with her son on social media, which led to a barrage of racist and hateful comments. Disturbed by the negativity, she has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell against those spreading hate and making derogatory remarks.
Over 2,000 Negative Comments on Her Son
Devoleena took to her Instagram Stories to share screenshots of the hate comments and revealed that over 2,000 negative comments had been posted targeting her child. She wrote, “Let’s treat them the way they deserve to be treated. Trolling a seven-month-old baby — for his colour, for his religion — this is beyond disgusting. If anyone spots such trolls, please send me screenshots and their profiles. I’m filing an official complaint soon.”
She made it clear that her fight is against racism and that she dreams of a society where no such discrimination exists.
“I Was Silent, But Not Anymore”
The actress said that as a celebrity, she has grown used to being trolled for her work or lifestyle choices. “I always knew hate would come along with love. I remained silent even when people questioned my marriage — which was my choice, my human right. But this time, they crossed a line.”
She emphasized that her silence had been mistaken for weakness, and now that trolls were targeting her innocent child, she could not stay quiet.
“They forget that racism is a crime. My son will grow up to be strong enough to handle such situations — after all, he is my son,” she added.
Many Troll Accounts Now Disappeared
Devoleena concluded by saying she has taken the legal route and is determined not to forgive anyone involved. “I want to make sure no other parent or child has to go through this. I’m thankful to the Cyber Crime Cell for taking this seriously and supporting me. Many of the troll accounts have disappeared from social media, but they will be tracked down.”
No Specific Anti-Racism Law in India
Advocate Hiranya Pandey says that under Indian law, racially charged remarks—such as an accused saying, “the son is black and the mother is fair”—can be examined under various legal provisions depending on the context and intent behind the statement. However, there is no specific anti-racism law in India.
Nonetheless, certain general legal provisions may apply to such racially motivated or discriminatory statements, especially when the intent is to cause mental distress, hurt religious sentiments, or incite social disharmony.
According to Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
- Section 196: Penalizes promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
- Section 299: Punishes deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
- Section 356 (1) & (2): Defamation laws may apply if the statement harms the reputation of the individuals involved.
- SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: If the statement targets someone from SC/ST communities, this act may be invoked.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act: If the statement is made in a sexually inappropriate or abusive context involving a minor, this act could be relevant.
Victims may also pursue civil remedies for mental harassment or emotional distress caused by such statements.