Maharashtra Police File Case Over Derogatory Memes

Maharashtra police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against a user of the social media platform X for allegedly posting derogatory memes about Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The complaint, lodged by Prathamesh Patil, claims that the account @gajabhauX has been sharing morphed images of Fadnavis alongside Mughal figures, which has incited public dissatisfaction and insecurity. In a separate case, the cyber wing of Maharashtra Police has summoned eight users, including a parody account, for defamatory claims about Anjali Birla, daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging she unfairly benefited from her father's influence in her civil service career. The parody account had posted false information about her UPSC exam results, leading to legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The Delhi High Court has also intervened, ordering the removal of the defamatory posts against Anjali Birla. Both cases highlight the ongoing issues of online defamation and the impact of social media on public figures in Maharashtra.