X Tells Delhi High Court Police Takedown Notices Were Fake

What the notices demanded

IFF said X forwarded two "Illegal Content Reports" to it on November 3, filed in the name of the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), Delhi Police. The first, dated October 31, sought removal of a post IFF published on October 30 and another by SFLC.in. The second, dated November 2, sought removal of 37 posts and the withholding of the accounts of IFF, SFLC.in and GeoBlockedIndia.

The reports alleged the posts defamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The posts had reproduced and commented on a legal notice the groups said they received in the RSS's name. IFF argued the posts were protected speech under Article 19(1)(a) and noted the reports cited no complaint, FIR, Magistrate's order or court order.

Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for both groups, placed X's transparency reports and the legal notice on record. IFF said it wrote to the RSS to confirm the notice's authenticity and got no reply, while SFLC.in said its verification email bounced back from the Delhi Police address listed in the communication.

Why it matters

The case highlights how platforms verify takedown requests sent in the name of law enforcement agencies, at a time of wider debate over content removal and transparency. In July, Jack Dorsey claimed India's I4C directed GitHub to remove three URLs linked to the open-source app bitchat within three hours. MeitY is also reportedly exploring withdrawing Section 79 safe harbour protection from social media platforms.