The Delhi Police Special Cell has taken action following a complaint lodged by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding a video allegedly doctored to portray Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a misleading light. The video in question has been circulating on various social media platforms, including ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
An FIR has been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (creating enmity between different groups), 465 (forgery), and 171G (publishing false statements and undue influence). The complaint alleges that the dissemination of this video aims to sow discord among communities.
Video Content Disputed as per Delhi Police
According to the FIR, the video appears to have been manipulated to spread misinformation, potentially disturbing communal harmony and public order. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also come forward, asserting that another video purportedly showing Shah advocating for the removal of reservation for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes is doctored and false. This particular video has been widely circulated, including by social media accounts associated with the Congress party.
The BJP contends that the original video features Shah discussing the constitutionality of a 4 percent reservation for Muslims in Telangana, deeming it unconstitutional. This clarification from the party contradicts the narrative presented in the manipulated video.
Multiple media outlets have weighed in on the controversy, affirming that the video circulating on social media platforms has been tampered with. They assert that the original footage dates back to a public meeting held last year, during which Shah addressed the issue of Muslim reservation in Telangana.
The initiation of a police investigation underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the dissemination of potentially divisive and falsified content on social media platforms. As the probe unfolds, clarity regarding the authenticity of the videos and the intentions behind their circulation is anticipated.