Punjab Police have registered multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) against numerous social media accounts following complaints about objectionable content targeting Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai. The action follows a courtroom incident where a lawyer attempted to hurl a shoe at the CJI and offensive online posts.
According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, the flagged social media content relates to attacks on a high constitutional authority, caste-based vilification and incitement, and public mischief with a direct attempt to disturb peace and public order by unjustly exploiting caste and communal sentiments. The FIRs have been registered in accordance with the law.
The posts and videos in question contain casteist and hateful expressions intended to promote communal disharmony, disturb public order, and erode respect for judicial institutions. The social media content included unlawful and objectionable posts targeting the CJI. The contents of the social media posts included posts intended to provoke violence and erode respect for constitutional positions, intentional intimidation and insult to a member of a Scheduled Caste (SC), attempts to promote enmity, hatred and ill-will against a member of the SC category, promotion of enmity between groups on grounds of caste, and intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace and statements conducting to public mischief.
The FIRs have been registered under sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), and 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and sections 196, 352, 353(1), 353(2), and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at various police stations upon receipt of information disclosing the commission of cognisable offences. Investigations into these FIRs are being conducted in accordance with the law.
The Cyber Cell wing has been directed to coordinate with social media platforms to promptly remove the offending content. The police are actively working to address the issue and ensure compliance with legal measures to curb the spread of such content.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the ruling party in Punjab, has been vocal on the issue, with party chief Arvind Kejriwal condemning those abusing the CJI on social media. The party termed the posts a direct attempt to disturb peace and public order by unjustly exploiting caste and communal sentiments, and containing casteist and hate-filled expressions intended to promote communal disharmony, disturb public order and erode respect for judicial institutions.
The incident that preceded the social media backlash involved 71-year-old Delhi lawyer Rakesh Kishore, who allegedly attempted to hurl a shoe at CJI Gavai in the Supreme Court. An activist has sought the Attorney General's mandatory permission to initiate contempt-of-court charges against him. Kishore has justified his actions by stating that God directed him to attack CJI Gavai because the Chief Justice allegedly mocked Sanatan Dharma.
Concerns have also been raised about the use of artificial intelligence to generate casteist abuse on social media, including an AI-generated video showing the CJI with a blue face and an earthen pot, referencing a discriminatory practice against Dalits.
