Delhi Police notices target digital rights groups over RSS posts

Delhi Police issued two notices to social media platform X seeking removal of accounts belonging to digital rights groups Internet Freedom Foundation and Software Freedom Law Center, as well as the operator of GeoBlockedIndia. The notices also demanded removal of 37 posts, including content published by 16 other users, over alleged defamation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The first notice was submitted to X on October 31 at 8:06 pm and identified two posts published by IFF and SFLC on October 30 concerning a legal notice purportedly issued on behalf of the RSS. Police described the posts as defamatory toward the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

“It was an imposter. We have done an internal investigation and it turn out this was an imposter. We have filed a complaint with Delhi Police.”

The second notice was submitted on November 2 at 8:51 am and listed 40 URLs, including the full X accounts of IFF, SFLC and GeoBlockedIndia. It cited Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, read with Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, requiring action within three hours.

IFF said it received copies of the notices from X on the morning of November 3 and would approach the court if Delhi Police did not withdraw them. IFF and SFLC then filed petitions challenging the notices.

On November 6, X told the Delhi High Court that the notices were sent by an imposter and not by Delhi Police. The platform said an internal investigation showed the email used to submit the reports appeared fake and that it had filed a complaint with Delhi Police.

Justice Amit Mahajan disposed of both petitions, granting petitioners liberty to approach the court afresh if any action is taken. X stated it is not likely to take action on the reports at this stage.