Surat influencer taken into custody over a Gandhi‑centric Instagram reel
A 47‑year‑old social‑media personality from the Adajan area of Surat was seized by the city’s Cyber Crime Branch after a short video she posted on October 1 sparked official outrage. The clip, released just days before Gandhi Jayanti, displayed Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait as it appears on a ₹500 note and was accompanied by gestures and remarks that authorities deemed disrespectful.
Identified as Simran Patel, the woman calls herself a homemaker but commands close to one million followers on Instagram. Police say a formal complaint set off a technical trace that linked the offending reel to her account, leading to her arrest.
Charges filed under the Information Technology Act
Investigators lodged a complaint invoking Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, which criminalises the publication or transmission of obscene material in electronic form. After verifying the content, the cyber‑crime team formally booked Patel and placed her in custody.
The case illustrates how India’s digital statutes are increasingly being wielded to police content perceived as insulting to national icons.
Officials caution against lax social‑media behaviour
The branch issued a wide‑ranging advisory urging internet users to fact‑check before sharing and to refrain from using religious, cultural or historic symbols in ways that could attract legal repercussions. Citizens are encouraged to report questionable material to the appropriate authorities rather than amplify it.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to examine the creation and dissemination of the reel.
