Delhi Police on Monday warned of strict legal action against a social media handle for allegedly spreading false claims that police had opened fire at a rally led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, killing five people.
Police sources said around 300 social media posts allegedly aimed at spreading rumours or triggering public unrest had been taken down amid protests in the national capital.
The post in question claimed that police had fired at Rahul Gandhi's rally, killing five workers, and urged people to take to the streets and block Delhi.
In a post on X, Delhi Police identified the handle as @indiantiwari01 and alleged that it had a history of sharing doctored media, old footage and fabricated narratives to mislead the public.
“Do not fall for or amplify this rumour,” the police said, warning that spreading malicious rumours on social media was punishable by law and that strict action would be taken against the handle.
Police have also approached X seeking the removal of objectionable and allegedly misleading content linked to the protests, sources said. Teams are monitoring social media platforms to identify fabricated content and posts that could disturb public order, they added.
The action comes days after police arrested a 24-year-old man, identified as Nadeem Ahmed, for allegedly using artificial intelligence tools to create and circulate a fabricated video showing a police officer sexually harassing a woman journalist during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Police alleged that the video falsely portrayed a police personnel in an objectionable manner. The case is being investigated separately from allegations of sexual harassment levelled against police personnel by women journalists.
(With inputs from PTI)