Delhi Police File Four FIRs Over Protest Rumours; Pakistan-Based Handles Under Scanner
Delhi Police has registered four First Information Reports (FIRs) against social media handles accused of spreading false information about the protests held in the capital, officials said on Tuesday. Several accounts said to be operated from Pakistan are also under scrutiny in connection with the same alleged misinformation, they added.
The FIRs concern posts that police say were misleading, aimed at building what they describe as an "anti-India narrative", and capable of disturbing law and order. An FIR marks the start of a police investigation, not a finding of guilt. Those named in such cases retain the right to respond, to be heard, and to be presumed innocent until a court decides otherwise.
According to a police source, a number of social media accounts based in Pakistan were allegedly involved in circulating claims linked to the protests. On 10 October, police say, some of these handles put out claims that several people had died during the protests in Delhi. Officials stated that these claims were false.
Police said they have secured the deactivation of several Pakistan-based handles as part of the action. The department has not publicly released the names of the accounts, the identities of the people behind them, or the specific posts that led to the FIRs.
Some caution is warranted on claims about the origin of online accounts. Determining where a social media user is physically located is technically difficult, since users can mask their location through virtual private networks and other tools. Allegations about the source of such posts therefore form part of an ongoing investigation and have not, so far, been independently verified or tested in court.
Cases of this nature are typically registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to public mischief and statements that cause alarm or promote enmity, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. A conviction would require evidence that meets the standard set by law.
The episode reflects a wider challenge for police and technology platforms alike. During periods of public unrest, unverified videos, old footage recycled as new, and fabricated claims travel quickly across messaging apps and social media. Officials have urged the public to rely on official statements and to verify information before sharing it. Fact-checkers note that such content originates from a mix of domestic and foreign accounts, and that false claims are sometimes amplified by ordinary users acting in good faith.
Indian law protects the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions, including in the interest of public order. Courts have repeatedly held that criticism of the government and peaceful dissent are not offences in themselves, and that only speech crossing the legal threshold laid down in law may be restricted. The line between lawful comment and unlawful incitement is decided case by case.
Police have not said whether anyone has been arrested or detained in connection with the four FIRs, and did not indicate a timeline for the investigation. Officials said further action would follow as the inquiries proceed.
