India news: Police issue FIRs over ‘abusive’ posts on Modi

India’s Supreme Court has issued orders for the release of minors arrested during the CJP protests.

It said authorities must ensure surveillance footage is preserved after petitioners alleged police brutality against demonstrators.

Chief Justice Surya Kant also told authorities to preserve the digital and personal data of people who joined the protests, while also barring any coercive action against ​them, according to the Indian media.

The court also told authorities to ensure protesters’ data was not made public.

Reportedly, the Supreme Court’s intervention came after petitions were filed by student protesters and activists. The protesters seek ​action against police for allegedly using excessive force and pellet guns during the CJP rallies.

“Whoever has committed excess … atrocities on innocent people, the law will take care of them. For that, there needs to be a completely independent and fair investigation,” Kant said, according to legal website Live Law, one of several outlets reporting the ruling.

“A probe is meaningless if ​no responsibility is fixed,” he said, before ordering the interim steps.

The Delhi Police has continued its crackdown against CJP protesters with it now filing a First Information Report (FIR) against several social media accounts which allegedly posted abusive content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Delhi Police has asked X to delete and remove the alleged post or video from the platform immediately.

Police have also issued a notice to X, seeking details on users who allegedly posted or shared the content under investigation.

Delhi Police’s Social Media Monitoring Team has been tracking content across platforms to identify posts that allegedly violate existing laws or have the potential for public disorder, officials said.

A case has been registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Special Cell under charges of criminal intimidation, public mischief and defamation, Indian newspaper The New Indian Express reported.

It is not clear how many accounts have been served the notices.

Hello! This is Midhat from the New Delhi bureau bringing you the latest news from India.

The crackdown on dissenters in the aftermath of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is continuing with the Delhi police issuing notices to accounts on X over abusive posts against Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India has directed authorities to release minors arrested during the CJP protests.

Stay tuned for all this and more from India!