New Delhi: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has registered a case over allegedly fraudulent notices circulated in the name of the police, targeting social media posts and accounts associated with the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and the Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC).
According to an official familiar with the development, the fake notices purportedly issued in the name of the Delhi Police sought the removal of certain social media posts and the blocking of accounts belonging to the two digital rights organisations.
The matter came to light after fraudulent communications were allegedly circulated using the identity of the police force to demand action against online content and social media accounts. The notices were reportedly presented as official police communications.
Sources said that a juvenile has been traced to Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the alleged impersonation. The development is part of the investigation into the circulation of the fraudulent notices.
The Crime Branch has registered a case to investigate the impersonation and determine how the fake communications were created and circulated.
The Internet Freedom Foundation and the Software Freedom Law Centre are organisations associated with digital rights and internet freedom issues. The case has brought attention to the misuse of police identity in attempts to influence or restrict online content.
Further details about the investigation and the role of the juvenile are awaited.
