Zuckerberg gets restraining order

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg got a restraining order against a stalker who stood outside of Zuckerberg's California office and left notes, officials said.

Pradeep Manukonda, 31, of Milpitas, Calif., claimed his mother was ailing and thought Zuckerberg could help when he began posting notes on the company's Web site, then escalated his efforts to try to get a face-to-face meeting with Zuckerberg, the San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday.

The restraining order requires Manukonda to stay at least 300 yards away from Zuckerberg, his house, car and office. It also requires Manukonda to cease all efforts to contact Zuckerberg by mail, e-mail and other types of communication, "including Facebook."

When news of the restraining order was reported, Manukonda and his notes went viral throughout the social networking universe Tuesday, the Mercury News reported.

The stalking began in mid-December, when Manukonda sent a handwritten note to Zuckerberg saying he needed the Facebook founder's help "very badly" because his mother was dying.

"I hope you will respond in time," the note read.

It apparently wasn't the first time Manukonda approached a business executive for money, the newspaper said. Court documents filed with Santa Clara County Superior Court indicated a Facebook security guard was told that Manukonda had approached another chief executive officer with a similar story.