An MBA student from the Old City in Hyderabad has been arrested by Cyberabad police on Friday after posting a defamatory and false Whatsapp message against Shah Ghouse restaurant that they used dog meat.

On December 14, Mohammed Rabbani, owner of Shah Ghouse lodged a complaint alleging that he had lost customers after a Whatsapp messages spread rumors that Cyberabad police had arrested the Shah Ghouse owner for adding dog meat in the dishes.

The messages also claimed that GHMC officials visited the restaurant and collected food samples to conduct laboratory tests.

“Rabbani alleged that the false information was broadcasted by some news channels, resulting in a damage in reputation and huge loss to the business at his restaurants in Shalibanda, Tolichowki and Gachibowli. Due to the loss in business, some employees of Shah Ghouse also lost their jobs,“ Cyber Crime ACP S Jayaram told Times of India.

Police has registered a case under sections 290 (committing public nuisance) and 500 (defamation) of the IPC and section 66 (D) of the IT Act.

The accused has been identified as V Chandra Mohan (22), a MBA student from Rikab Gunj of Madina.

Chandra Mohan had received a generic message on a Whatsapp group in Telugu about mixing of dog meat in mutton and serving people at the restaurants. With the intent to create panic among his friends, Mohan changed the message and posted in his school friends’ group stating that dog’s meat was found in Shah Ghouse restaurant on December 8. “As a result, the owner of the restaurant was arrested by the police,” ACP Jayaram added.

It was reported that Cyber Crime Police investigated 16 WhatsApp users from end receiver to sender, and traced it back to Mohan.