Mumbai
oi-Swastika Sruti
Mumbai Police has issued legal notices to 24 users of X, formerly Twitter, for sharing a controversial documentary posted by tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia. The notices were issued on October 18, 2026, following allegations that the documentary contained false and disparaging claims about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani.
On October 18, 2026, Mumbai Police issued legal notices to 24 X users for sharing a Sabeer Bhatia documentary allegedly containing disparaging claims about PM Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani, referencing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to a report by news agency PTI, the notices followed a complaint received by the cyber police over content shared by multiple accounts on the social media platform. The police communication alleged that the posts contained objectionable material targeting a prominent business group.
Why Did Mumbai Police Issue Notices To 24 X Users?
According to PTI, the notice indicated that the cyber police have received complaints stating that some X accounts have spread the contents which may be regarded as objectionable regarding a large business conglomerate.
It was stated in the notice that the links in the notice referred to the posts on the X account of Bhatia. According to the police, the contents include misleading, false and disparaging statements that can harm the image and goodwill of the company.
It was further said in the notice that circulating such contents may result in taking legal action against them under Section 352 and 356 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Section 352 states the intention to cause injury by way of insult and Section 356 pertains to the defamation.
Police Ask Account Holders To Remove Objectionable Posts
The notices asked the account holders and the platform to review the posts in question and remove the content or restrict access to it.
PTI reported that several users deleted the video clips after receiving the notices. However, some others shared copies of the police communication on their X accounts and criticised the action, describing it as excessive and unjustified.
The notices mark another instance of police action over content circulated on social media, where questions about the limits of online expression and the legal consequences of sharing disputed material continue to draw attention.
What Did Sabeer Bhatia Say About The Police Action?
Sabeer Bhatia, the Indian-American entrepreneur who co-founded Hotmail in 1996, confirmed that Mumbai Police had asked him to remove certain posts.
In his response, Bhatia said he had complied with the request and taken down the content identified by the police. However, he disputed the characterisation of the material as highly objectionable.
Bhatia argued that the post in question had highlighted alleged corruption at the highest levels of power. He questioned why drawing attention to alleged wrongdoing should attract such a response.
“When pointing out wrongdoing becomes a greater offense than the wrongdoing itself, who is the law really protecting?” he said.
He also expressed concern that the action could affect freedom of speech in India. According to Bhatia, citizens should be able to raise questions about matters of public interest without being afraid to express their views.
“A nation cannot progress when speaking the truth requires courage,” he said, as reported by PTI.
Bhatia further criticised what he viewed as restrictions on citizens’ ability to speak openly, saying that fear and silence could make it harder to address problems facing the country.
Who Is Sabeer Bhatia?
Sabeer Bhatia is an Indian-American technology entrepreneur best known for co-founding Hotmail, one of the earliest widely used free web-based email services. The service was launched in 1996 and later acquired by Microsoft.
Bhatia’s comments on the police notices have brought him into the centre of a debate involving online allegations, the reputation of businesses and the right to criticise people in positions of power.
