Congress leader Rajesh Soni arrested for Facebook posts on Operation Sindoor, booked under new BNS law
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
What the police say sparked the arrest
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
What the charges actually mean
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Rajesh Soni, a senior Congress leader in Gujarat, was arrested early Friday by the state's Cyber Crime Cell over a pair of Facebook posts that police allege endangered national morale and spread misinformation about a major military operation.The posts were related to Operation Sindoor, an ongoing mission by the Indian armed forces targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Soni now faces charges under two sections of the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—sections 152 and 353(1)(a).The FIR, filed by the CID Cyber Crime team on Thursday, cited two Facebook posts made by Soni.One of them depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi wearing a fighter pilot uniform in a poster-like image. In another, Soni allegedly claimed that 'the Indian government surrendered during the operation,' an accusation the police say could undermine both the mission and the morale of troops deployed on the ground.Superintendent of Police (CID-Cyber Crime), Bharatsinh Tank, said, 'Soni was accused of breaking defence personnel's morale and putting India's sovereignty in danger through misleading posts on Facebook.'Tank went on to say, 'We arrested Soni for his posts which could break the armed forces' morale and send a wrong message to soldiers that their contribution and sacrifice on the battlefield will go in vain.'Soni has been charged under Section 152 of the BNS, which deals with acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. This section carries serious consequences, including up to life imprisonment or a minimum of seven years' jail, plus a fine.The second charge—Section 353(1)(a)—relates to statements that could incite public mischief. This legal provision, too, has teeth and signals the government's intent to regulate what it views as provocative or destabilising online behaviour, especially during military operations.The arrest did not go unnoticed by Soni's party colleagues.Shortly after news broke, several Congress leaders gathered at the CID's office in Gandhinagar in protest. Leading the charge was Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil, who described the police action as disproportionate and politically motivated.Gohil said, 'He only tried to highlight that soldiers need to get their due credit instead of the govt spending taxpayers' money on publicity.'He also accused the authorities of cracking down on free expression at a time when the nation should be focusing on supporting its armed forces, not silencing dissent.Operation Sindoor has become a national talking point in recent weeks. The Indian military launched the mission with the stated goal of eliminating terror infrastructure in Pakistani territory and PoK. It has been projected by the government as a demonstration of India's zero-tolerance policy towards cross-border terrorism.But the operation has also sparked debates over public narrative management. As the conflict plays out on the ground, its portrayal in digital spaces has become sensitive—especially with a politically charged environment and general elections in view.The government's actions suggest it sees misinformation as a direct threat to the morale of soldiers and the success of such operations. At the same time, critics argue that there is a thin line between national interest and political convenience when it comes to controlling narratives.Soni's arrest under the new BNS framework could mark a pivotal moment in how India enforces online accountability. It raises difficult questions: Where does one draw the line between political critique and disinformation? Who decides whether a post is morale-breaking or simply provocative?For now, Rajesh Soni remains in custody, his party defiant, and the legal system gearing up for what may become a high-profile case on digital speech and national security.(With inputs from TOI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kulgam op being wound up: Officials
SRINAGAR: The 11-day-long anti-terror operation in the forests of south Kashmir's Kulgam district was being wound up, with no contact having been established with terrorists in the past 48 hours, officials said Tuesday. 'There has been no exchange of fire since Saturday,' a senior Army official confirmed. A senior police official said, 'The operation has now entered a low-key, subdued phase. We cannot, however, say that it has been called off entirely.' Top military commanders and police officers had been monitoring the operation. This was one of the longest anti-terror operations in recent years. Two soldiers from the Army's elite counter-insurgency unit — Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, both from Punjab — fell to terrorists' bullets; one local terrorist was shot dead, and 10 security personnel were injured in the operation. The encounter broke out on August 1 in Akhal Khulsan forests when a joint team of security forces was conducting a cordon-and-search operation based on intelligence inputs about the presence of three to five ultras in the area. The combing party came under fire, triggering a gunfight in which one local terrorist was killed. The other suspects managed to escape, taking advantage of the thick forests and deep ravines, prompting one of the largest searches in the area, with security forces deploying drones for aerial surveillance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 5 Books Warren Buffett Recommends You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo During the operation, intermittent firing and blasts were heard. The two Armymen were killed in a fierce gunfight on Saturday morning, taking the death toll of security personnel killed in anti-terror operations in J&K this year to 16 — three in Kashmir Valley and 13 in Jammu division, including three casualties due to Pakistani firing during escalated tensions between both countries following Operation Sindoor. After the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, security forces have so far killed 14 terrorists in Kashmir this year, including three top Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives linked to the Pahalgam attack who were shot dead in Srinagar on July 28.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Lok Sabha papers thrown at Chair amid heated protests; Jagdambika Pal reproves
Amidst persistent Opposition protests concerning the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Lok Sabha passed the Indian Ports Bill and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill. The House faced repeated disruptions and adjournments due to the uproar. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Lok Sabha passed two bills and referred one to a select committee amid continued protests and sloganeering by the Opposition over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in House witnessed repeated adjournments as the Opposition demanded a discussion on SIR. In the post-lunch session, minister Sarbananda Sonowal moved the Indian Ports Bill for consideration and passing. It was passed by a voice vote within 25 minutes. The House was adjourned for an hour till 4.30 pm. Minister G Kishan Reddy moved the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Opposition members continued their protests despite repeated appeals by Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the House. The Opposition threw some papers while protesting and the Chair took a grim view of the conduct. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said, "How can you throw papers at the chair?... You should be ashamed." Pal observed that Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha had been "instigating" people to enter the well and throw papers. While not naming anyone, he said the conduct was not appropriate.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kothamangalam suicide: Woman's family seeks NIA probe, claims she's victim of attempted forced conversion
Kochi: The family of a deceased 23-year-old woman from Kothamangalam, who alleged in her suicide note that her boyfriend compelled her to convert, has demanded a probe by National Investigation Agency (NIA). This comes even as Ernakulam rural police have formed a nine-member special investigation team, led by Muvattupuzha DSP, to investigate her death. Her boyfriend, Rameez (24), who was arrested on Monday, is in judicial custody and the investigation team is expected to seek his custody soon. The woman's mother has written to CM Pinarayi Vijayan and state police chief demanding an NIA probe. In the letter, she raised suspicion that her daughter was the victim of an attempted forced conversion by the accused. She alleged that her daughter was confined in the accused's house by him and his family, where she was physically assaulted. She also claimed that the charges invoked by police against Rameez were "not strong". The Kothamangalam police have booked the accused under Sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc.) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), after a friend of the deceased corroborated that the accused had slapped her. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Haldwani Users Prefers Toothsi Aligners Toothsi by MakeO Book Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola The possible involvement of more persons, including a friend mentioned in the victim's suicide note, is under investigation. Police are also trying to track down additional witnesses to record their statements. Police are yet to serve summons to Rameez's parents to question them, amid demands to book them for abetment. Meanwhile, police sources said the autopsy report confirmed hanging as the cause of death and also substantiated charges under Section 69 of BNS. However, the investigation team maintains that, so far, evidence points to a love affair gone sour rather than a concerted effort to convert religion. Police said the duo were batchmates at a college in Aluva and had decided to marry, but Rameez recently backtracked and even blocked her on WhatsApp. The woman was found hanging in her house in Kothamangalam on Saturday. Police recovered a suicide note, presumably written by the victim, containing serious accusations that the accused compelled her to convert and subjected her to cruelty. Meanwhile, the Syro-Malabar Church's media commission took up the issue, claiming in a Facebook post that the "real religious conversion" was happening in Kerala, not in Chhattisgarh. It added that it was unfortunate young women still could not identify religious extremists who exploit pure emotions like love to cheat. The commission also urged political outfits to oppose all practices that go against secularism. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
