Days after Meta restored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video that was briefly removed from Facebook, the spotlight has shifted to social media platform X, with the Delhi Police seeking the removal of posts containing abusive or derogatory content targeting the Prime Minister and other constitutional authorities.
According to official sources, the Delhi Police has written to the Elon Musk-owned platform, requesting it to take down posts and videos that allegedly use offensive language against constitutional office holders. The police have also sought details of the accounts responsible for uploading such content as part of an ongoing investigation.
The letter asks X to share information including the account holder’s name, address, email ID, contact details, login and logout records, and timestamps of the posts. Investigators have also requested the platform to preserve all relevant digital records for future proceedings and provide a certificate under Section 63(4) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
The police action follows complaints alleging that abusive content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi surfaced on social media during and after the student protests at Jantar Mantar, including the police action during the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The latest development comes amid increased scrutiny of social media platforms over content moderation. Earlier this week, Meta stated that the temporary removal of the Prime Minister’s video from Facebook had occurred due to an error and restored the content after acknowledging the mistake.
The Delhi Police has not publicly disclosed the number of social media posts or accounts under review. X has also not issued an official response regarding the police request.
The matter adds to the ongoing debate over balancing free expression on digital platforms with legal obligations to address content that may violate Indian laws or target constitutional authorities.
