Surat influencer taken into custody for Gandhi‑inspired Instagram reel
A 47‑year‑old Instagram star from Surat’s Adajan area 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 ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, displayed Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait as it appears on a ₹500 note and was accompanied by gestures and captions that authorities classified as disrespectful.
The woman, identified as Simran Patel, describes herself as a homemaker while boasting nearly one‑million followers on the platform. Police say a formal complaint set off a technical investigation that traced the offending post back to her account, leading to her arrest.
Charges filed under the Information Technology Act
Investigators lodged a complaint under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, which criminalises the publishing or transmission of obscene material in electronic form. After verifying the content, the cyber‑crime team formally booked Patel and placed her in custody.
This filing illustrates how India’s digital statutes are being wielded to curb content perceived as insulting to national icons.
Authorities caution against lax social‑media behaviour
The branch issued a sweeping advisory urging internet users to fact‑check before sharing and to refrain from using religious, cultural or historic symbols in ways that could attract legal action. Citizens are encouraged to report dubious material to the relevant agencies instead of amplifying it.
The probe remains ongoing as police continue to scrutinise the creation and spread of the reel.
