The Varanasi police have initiated legal action against eight individuals for allegedly spreading deceptive and provocative content on social media concerning Manikarnika Ghat, one of Hinduism’s most revered sites.
According to officials, separate FIRs have been registered at the Chowk police station after images and posts circulated on the social media platform X were claimed to be misleading and inflammatory.
The police say the content misrepresented the ongoing infrastructure strengthening and beautification work at the ghat and improperly used images of Hindu deities, leading to public anger and social unease.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Atul Anjaan Tripathi stated that investigators are also scrutinising the role of other social media users who may have shared or amplified the disputed posts.
“Anyone found contributing to the spread of misleading material will be examined,” he said.
The complaints were filed by the construction agency executing the redevelopment project at Manikarnika Ghat and by a government official.
They alleged that the posts were “false, baseless and deceptive,” and that they intentionally sought to mislead devotees and the wider public.
Police further noted that some posts attempted to draw controversial historical parallels by linking the Indian government with Mughal ruler Aurangzeb—an assertion that reportedly intensified outrage and led to a surge of heated reactions online.
So far, no arrests have been made.
The FIRs have been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 196, 298, 299, and 353, which deal with promoting enmity, insulting religious sentiments, and actions likely to disturb public harmony.
The investigation remains ongoing
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