The Delhi Police has stepped up its action against allegedly abusive and defamatory content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, registering a First Information Report (FIR) against several social media handles and seeking identifying details of the users behind the posts.
The case was registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell after authorities flagged what they described as “derogatory, malicious and defamatory” material targeting the Prime Minister and other constitutional authorities.
The police have also approached X, formerly known as Twitter, asking the platform to remove or disable access to the identified posts and preserve the electronic records linked to them. Officials have sought account-holder information, including names, addresses, contact details and email IDs, besides login and logout records with corresponding timestamps.
According to officials, the FIR concerns around seven to eight X handles. The case invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to criminal intimidation, circulation of false information and defamation. Investigators are examining the posts and other digital material to determine whether additional offences are involved.
The action follows a wider Delhi Police crackdown on social media content that appeared during and after student protests at Jantar Mantar and the violence associated with the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march.
Police officials said their social media monitoring teams have been continuously scanning platforms for posts, videos and comments that may violate the law. Several posts containing abusive remarks against PM Modi have already been removed after notices were issued to social media intermediaries.
In its communication to X, the police reportedly asked the platform to act within three hours of receiving the notice. At the same time, X was directed to preserve relevant data, logs and subscriber information so that the material could be used as evidence during the investigation.
The development comes against the backdrop of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. The demonstrations continued for more than a month and drew considerable attention after clashes broke out between protesters and police during the July 20 march towards Parliament.
The July 20 violence resulted in injuries to protesters and police personnel, according to officials. Several FIRs were subsequently registered in connection with the clashes. The protest was later called off on July 25 after the government accepted the protesters’ demands, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
While the physical protests have subsided, the dispute has now extended into the digital space. Delhi Police officials say social media posts linked to the agitation are being examined to identify material that allegedly crosses legal boundaries.
Police have also been monitoring manipulated and AI-generated content. Earlier, officials said hundreds of social media accounts had been identified for allegedly circulating fake narratives, rumours and deepfake videos linked to the protests. Some accounts have been recommended for blocking through the respective platforms.
The latest FIR is part of a growing focus by law enforcement agencies on online content involving political figures, particularly when posts are alleged to contain threats, defamatory claims, manipulated visuals or material capable of disturbing public order.
The issue has also moved beyond Delhi. On Friday, Hyderabad Cybercrime Police registered cases against several social media users and the India head of Meta over allegedly morphed and objectionable content targeting PM Modi. Investigators are examining content shared on Facebook and Instagram, adding another layer to the nationwide scrutiny of politically sensitive social media posts.
Separately, Noida Police registered a zero FIR against a 25-year-old woman over allegedly objectionable remarks against the Prime Minister during the Jantar Mantar protest. The case invokes provisions of the BNS dealing with intentional insult, public mischief and defamation.
The developments underline the increasingly complicated line between political criticism, protest speech and content that authorities believe may amount to a criminal offence. Social media has become an important outlet for political debate, but police action in these cases shows that posts shared during tense public demonstrations are receiving closer legal and digital scrutiny.
For investigators, the immediate task is to establish who created and circulated the disputed material, whether the content was deliberately manipulated or misleading, and whether it meets the legal threshold for the offences cited in the FIR.
The Delhi Police investigation is continuing, while social media platforms have been asked to cooperate by removing flagged material and preserving digital evidence. The action is likely to keep the spotlight on online speech, social media accountability, defamation and the limits of political expression in India.
