FIR against X handles for derogatory posts targeting PM

New Delhi: Delhi Police has registered an FIR against several social media handles for allegedly posting “derogatory, malicious and defamatory content” targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought complete details of account holders from X, official sources said on Wednesday.

The case was registered by the Special Cell’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit, which also issued notices to X and directed it to remove or disable access to identified posts and preserve all related electronic records for investigation, the sources said.

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, they said.

The FIR against seven to eight handles has been filed under Sections 351(3) (criminal intimidation), 353(2) (circulating false information, rumours, or alarming news-including media) and 356(2) (whoever defames another person) of the BNS.

The case follows a complaint alleging that objectionable content aimed at constitutional authorities was being circulated on the social media platform.

Some social media posts under scrutiny were uploaded during and after the July 20 Sansad Chalo protests spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party in which abusive language was used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and security personnel. During the clashes at the protest, at least 65 protesters and over 200 police personnel sustained injuries, officials maintain.

The notices to X, under the relevant provision of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), seek complete subscriber information of the accounts, including names, addresses, contact details, email IDs, and login and logout records with date and time stamps.

Police has also sought any additional information that may assist the investigation and asked the platform to preserve the relevant data for evidentiary purposes, he added.