New Delhi: Delhi Police has issued notices and registered an FIR against several X (formerly Twitter) handles, including pro-Hindutva handle Jaipur Dialogues and content creator Ratan Ranjan, for sharing what it termed “derogatory, malicious and defamatory content targeting constitutional heads”.
While Jaipur Dialogues confirmed to ThePrint that it has received a notice from Delhi Police, Ranjan said, “Now, I simply cannot understand why I keep receiving notices from jurisdictions where the BJP is in power.”
The case in connection with this was registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit. The IFSO also issued notices to X, directing it to remove or disable access to identified posts and preserve all related electronic records for investigation, ThePrint has learnt.
X, formerly Twitter, has been directed to remove or disable access to the content within three hours of receiving the notices while ensuring that all relevant data, logs and subscriber information are preserved, police sources said.
“After review of content uploaded during and after the protest, police are issuing notices to remove such posts which are abusive in nature,” a police source told ThePrint.
Adding, “This is a routine and continuous process. We take down objectionable, illegal content.”
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Delhi Police FIR
The IFSO issued “Intimation to Intermediary for Disabling Access to Unlawful Information” notices to X under provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
It has directed the platform to disable access to several identified URLs, according to one of the notices, which ThePrint has seen.
The notice mentions that an FIR has been filed against various handles under BNS sections 351(3) (criminal intimidation), 353(2) (circulating false information, rumours, or alarming news-including via electronic media) and 356(2) (criminal defamation).
Police sources said a complaint was received alleging that objectionable content aimed at constitutional authorities was being circulated on social media. It referred to posts uploaded either during or after the 20 July ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest march called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Some of these posts had abusive content directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Police or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.
“It is respectfully submitted that the above-mentioned URLs hosted on your platform contain posts being used for dissemination of false, defamatory, manipulated and objectionable content with malicious intent to tarnish the reputation of public personalities and other individuals,” read one notice issued to X, which ThePrint has seen.
The notice added: “It is further submitted that the circulation of such objectionable and defamatory content has caused serious harm to the reputation, dignity and public image of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. The continued availability of such content has the potential to disturb public order, create unnecessary political controversy and erode public trust. Such acts also facilitate misuse of social media platforms for defamation and objectionable content and cyber-enabled offences.
“Now therefore, in view of the above facts and circumstances and in accordance with the applicable provisions of law, you are hereby directed to remove or disable access to the aforesaid accounts as well as URLs immediately, within three hours of receipt of this intimation, while ensuring that the relevant data, logs and subscriber information are preserved for evidence purposes.”
Notice issued to X
In another notice to X, under Section 94 (requesting digital evidence) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Delhi Police has sought subscriber information of the accounts.
“Delete/remove the alleged post/video from your platform immediately. Kindly provide the complete registrant details such as full name, address, contact details and email ID of the X account ID holder from which the above content is posted including login and logout details with time and date stamp,” read the notice, which ThePrint has seen.
It added, “Any other relevant information which may be useful for investigation of this case. The details related to the alleged post/video may please be preserved for future use. Certificate u/s 63(4) of BSA.”
The notice has been issued to X handles Ratan Ranjan, Vigilant Hindutva, Jaipur Dialogues, Saffron Chargers, Alpkanya, Deepika Bhardwaj, Besura Taansane, Pritamkrbauddh, and Practical Spy.
Ranjan told ThePrint Wednesday, “I myself do not know why the Delhi Police issued a notice to me, given that I did not post anything offensive or abusive during the CJP protest; in fact, I regularly showcase the Delhi government’s development work—often adopting the persona of ‘Nali-Kejriwal’ [a satirical take on Kejriwal].
“I had previously received a notice from the Rajasthan Police regarding a Twitter video in which I highlighted the Delhi government’s development initiatives. Now, I simply cannot understand why I keep receiving notices from jurisdictions where the BJP is in power.”
Activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj maintained that she merely shared a screenshot from a reel where a woman was standing holding an “extremely derogatory placard against Prime Minister Mr Modi” and that she condemned it.
Bhardwaj added, “She was heard saying in the video ‘koi viral kardo’ (make it viral) making it clear she was doing it only for attention. I shared it to condemn such acts by those who called them students or protestors to question such language but Delhi Police has made me a culprit. I have spoken to the concerned officer and explained my post and he was kind enough to appreciate it. He asked me to remove the post and I have done the same…”
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)