Home Minister’s doctored video: Special Cell writes to X, other social media platforms

The Delhi Police Special Cell’s Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit has written to X and other social media platforms to obtain information about a doctored video featuring Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“We have written to X, formerly known as Twitter, and other social media regarding the video. We are investigating both the source of the video and those responsible for its widespread circulation,” said sources privy to the probe.

This comes after Delhi Police, on Sunday, registered an FIR over a doctored video of the Home Minister where his statements indicating a commitment to abolish reservation quotas for Muslims in Telangana, were changed to make it seem that he was advocating scrapping all reservations.

“We received a complaint regarding the edited video of the Home Minister. Two complaints were received by police, one from the BJP and another from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Following this, the Delhi Police Special Cell Cyber Wing’s IFSO unit filed an FIR,” a source said.

A case has been registered under Sections 153, 153A, 465, 469, 171G of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 66C of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

According to the FIR, a copy of which is in possession of IANS, the MHA, in its complaint, stated that it has been found that some doctored videos are being circulated by users of Facebook and X.

“The video seems to be doctored, spreading misleading information with the intention of creating disharmony among communities which is likely to affect public tranquillity and public order issues. It is requested to kindly take necessary legal action as per the provisions of law,” the Ministry said, as per the FIR.

It also stated that a report was attached with the complaint containing details of links and handles from which the doctored videos of the Home Minister are being shared.

The controversy erupted after a video surfaced on social media purportedly showcasing Home Minister Amit Shah making statements suggesting the BJP’s intention to annul reservation provisions for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).