Surat influencer taken into custody over Gandhi‑themed Instagram reel
A 47‑year‑old content creator from the Adajan area of Surat was apprehended 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 the ₹500 note and was paired with gestures and captions that authorities classified as insulting.
The woman, known as Simran Patel, describes herself as a homemaker but boasts close to one million followers on Instagram. Police say a complaint led to a digital forensics sweep that linked the offending reel to her account, resulting in her arrest.
Charges filed under the Information Technology Act
Investigators lodged a case 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 formally booked Patel and placed her in police custody.
This filing illustrates how India’s cyber legislation is increasingly being invoked to curb content perceived as disrespectful toward national symbols and historic figures.
Officials caution about stricter 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 historical icons in ways that could attract legal repercussions. Citizens are encouraged to report questionable posts to the appropriate authorities rather than amplifying them.
The probe remains ongoing as investigators continue to examine the creation, editing and dissemination of the reel.
