Delhi Police accused of seeking removal of digital rights accounts on X

Delhi Police has issued notices to the social media platform X seeking the removal of accounts belonging to the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC.in), and the operator of GeoBlockedIndia. The police allege that these accounts and several specific posts are defamatory toward the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group.

The notices cite Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, regarding criminal defamation, and the Information Technology Rules, 2021. The dispute originated after the digital rights groups posted about a purported legal notice they received from the RSS regarding government content-blocking directives.

While the digital rights groups have labeled the requests unlawful and threatened legal action, reports suggest the situation may involve a hoax. An official familiar with the case told Scroll that the purported police communication to X may be fabricated, following earlier denials from individuals associated with the RSS that the organization had issued any such notices.