EIGHT FIRs, 500 POSTS UNDER SCRUTINY: DELHI POLICE OPENS TWO-FRONT OPERATION AFTER INDIA BLOC’S ‘VOTE THEFT’ MARCH

October 14, 2026

Delhi Police has registered four first information reports (FIRs) in connection with the INDIA bloc’s march to the Supreme Court over alleged electoral irregularities, while launching a separate investigation into an alleged online disinformation campaign that authorities suspect was designed to exploit the demonstrations and disturb communal harmony. The police have also approached social media platforms seeking the removal of approximately 500 pieces of content described as objectionable or misleading.

The developments follow Monday’s opposition march led by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, with INDIA bloc leaders and supporters assembling at Barakhamba Road before proceeding towards the Supreme Court. The demonstration demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

According to police sources, the four FIRs relating to the march concern alleged violations of prohibitory orders, the breaking of barricades and the defacement of public roads. Two cases were registered at Tilak Marg police station, while Mandir Marg and Barakhamba Road police stations registered one FIR each.

Police maintained that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in the area when the demonstration took place, making the gathering unauthorised. The authorities said the restrictions had been imposed to prevent unauthorised assemblies and maintain public order around sensitive locations in central Delhi.

The march drew thousands of participants, who raised slogans demanding Kumar’s resignation and an end to the SIR exercise. Demonstrators carried flags associated with the Congress, Samajwadi Party and student organisations, including the National Students’ Union of India, Youth Congress, All India Students’ Association and All India Students’ Federation.

As the procession moved along Bhagwan Das Road, some participants climbed onto parked police vehicles and buses, waving flags and cheering. Police personnel subsequently attempted to direct the gathering towards one side of the road. The situation became more tense as sections of the crowd pushed and pulled against security personnel attempting to manage the movement.

Police sources said more than 10,000 personnel had been deployed in and around New Delhi during the demonstration. The extensive deployment reflected heightened security concerns following earlier protests over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll revision and the detention of political leaders, activists and student representatives.

SEPARATE PROBE INTO ALLEGED ONLINE DISINFORMATION

Alongside the cases linked directly to the march, Delhi Police has registered four additional FIRs concerning an alleged disinformation campaign circulating on social media. Investigators suspect that some Pakistan-based social media accounts attempted to exploit the protests by sharing misleading narratives, allegedly with the objective of disturbing communal harmony and generating unrest.

Police sources said more than 100 suspicious social media handles were being monitored, several of which were suspected of operating from across the border. Investigators alleged that these accounts had circulated old and edited videos depicting riots and violent incidents while falsely presenting them as footage of recent events in Delhi.

According to the police, some accounts were also created using the names of Indian youths to make the content appear as though it had originated within the country. Investigators are examining these accounts and the material they allegedly shared to establish the origin, authenticity and intended purpose of the posts.

The police have written to social media platforms requesting the removal of approximately 500 pieces of content considered objectionable or misleading. The request forms part of an effort to limit the circulation of material that authorities believe could inflame tensions or misrepresent events connected with the demonstrations.

One incident under scrutiny concerns social media claims circulated on October 10 alleging that widespread violence had broken out during protests in Delhi. Another post, shared on X on Tuesday, claimed that the Army had been deployed in the capital and that markets had been shut down.

Delhi Police rejected the latter claim, describing the video accompanying it as out of context and unrelated to current events. Authorities warned against treating unverified material as evidence of an ongoing security emergency.

The investigation seeks to distinguish genuine footage from recycled, edited or falsely captioned material. The police have alleged that misleading posts can create a distorted picture of developments on the ground, trigger unnecessary panic and potentially encourage further disturbances.

The allegations concerning foreign-linked accounts remain under investigation. The suspected origin of a social media account does not, by itself, establish who created a particular post or whether it was part of a coordinated operation. Investigators will need to establish those connections through the examination of account activity and other relevant evidence.

ELECTORAL DISPUTE CONTINUES TO DRIVE POLITICAL CONFRONTATION

The INDIA bloc’s march was organised to challenge the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have alleged that the exercise raises serious concerns about voter deletions, transparency and the protection of eligible citizens’ voting rights. They have demanded Kumar’s resignation and called for greater scrutiny of the revision process.

The BJP and the Election Commission have rejected allegations of deliberate electoral manipulation. The underlying dispute remains contested, and the registration of FIRs relating to the march does not establish the validity or otherwise of the opposition’s electoral allegations.

The police action has added a further dimension to the confrontation. While authorities say the protest violated restrictions imposed for maintaining public order, opposition leaders have criticised the scale of the security deployment and questioned whether the restrictions were proportionate to the circumstances.

The separate disinformation investigation introduces another concern: whether false reports about violence and security measures are being circulated to exploit an already tense political situation. Authorities say they are examining suspicious accounts and seeking the removal of misleading posts, while the specific responsibility of those behind the content remains to be established.

The two investigations therefore concern different aspects of the same episode. The first focuses on alleged violations during the opposition march, including barricade-breaking and road defacement. The second examines alleged attempts to distort public understanding of the protests through misleading online content.

With four FIRs registered over the demonstration, another four concerning the alleged online campaign, and approximately 500 pieces of content flagged for removal, Delhi Police has opened a broad investigation into both the street mobilisation and the digital activity surrounding it. The outcome will depend on the evidence gathered, the identities and actions of those responsible, and the legal process that follows.