Delhi Police Await Data from X in Rana Ayyub Hate Speech Probe
The case stems from a complaint filed by advocate Amita Sachdeva, who alleged that Ayyub made social media posts that were derogatory towards Hindu deities and incited communal discord;
In a recent development, the Delhi Police informed a local court that they are still awaiting critical information from social media platform X (formerly Twitter) regarding the account activity of journalist Rana Ayyub, as part of an ongoing investigation into offensive posts made in 2016 and 2017.
The case stems from a complaint filed by advocate Amita Sachdeva, who alleged that Ayyub made social media posts that were derogatory towards Hindu deities and incited communal discord. Based on the complaint, the court had earlier directed the Delhi Police to register an FIR and proceed with a detailed probe. The alleged violations invoke serious provisions of the Indian Penal Code including Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).
During a hearing this week, the investigating officer informed Chief Judicial Magistrate Himanshu Raman Singh that a request had been sent to X for account metadata, including IP logs, post history, and user verification data. However, the platform’s response is still pending, delaying further progress in the case.
The court has now granted additional time to the police, acknowledging that digital evidence, especially in cases involving social media, hinges significantly on cooperation from global tech companies.
Ayyub, a prominent investigative journalist and Washington Post columnist, has faced multiple legal and enforcement challenges over the years, often drawing international attention and criticism from press freedom groups.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled after the police receive a formal response from X.