Surat influencer taken into custody over Gandhi‑themed Instagram reel
A 47‑year‑old Instagram personality from the Adajan area of Surat was arrested by the city’s Cyber Crime Branch after a short video she posted on 1 October sparked official outrage. The clip, released a few days before Gandhi Jayanti, displayed Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait as it appears on a ₹500 note, coupled with gestures and commentary that authorities deemed disrespectful.
The woman, identified as Simran Patel, describes herself as a homemaker but boasts close to one million followers on the platform. Police say a formal complaint triggered a technical investigation that traced the offending post back to her account, leading to her detention.
Charges filed under the Information Technology Act
Investigators lodged a complaint under 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 booked Patel and placed her in custody.
This filing highlights how India’s digital statutes are being applied to curb material perceived as disrespectful toward national icons.
Authorities caution against lax social‑media behavior
The branch issued a wide‑ranging advisory urging netizens to fact‑check before sharing and to refrain from using religious, cultural or historic symbols in ways that could attract legal action. Users are encouraged to report questionable content to the appropriate agencies rather than amplifying it.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the creation and distribution of the reel.
