The Delhi police have initiated legal action against social media handles accused of circulating misleading videos falsely suggesting that protests are continuing at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The police have issued takedown notices to Meta and X as authorities move to curb the spread of misinformation.

The action follows the circulation of dozens of videos across social media platforms claiming to show “live” protests at Jantar Mantar until August 3, despite the 36-day Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) agitation having ended over a week earlier. Several of the clips garnered millions of views, prompting various departments to inquire with the police whether fresh demonstrations had resumed.

Speaking to The Hindu, a senior New Delhi police official said the process of removing the content was underway. “There are a large number of misleading videos circulating across social media platforms. We have verified that no such protests have happened and issued takedown notices to Meta and X for the removal of the misleading content. We have also started identifying the handles and warning them of legal action if the behaviour continues,” the official said.

The official said no First Information Report had been registered so far.

The government’s fact-check unit has also stepped in to counter the viral claims. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit said videos being circulated under titles such as “Jantar Mantar Season 2” and “Jantar Mantar protest session 2.0” falsely claimed that protests had resumed in New Delhi.

“The viral videos are old, and an attempt is being made to mislead people by sharing them with a misleading context,” the unit said, urging the public to remain cautious while sharing unverified content online.

Among the videos circulating widely was footage showing New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma and Joint CP Deepak Purohit interacting with organisers during the CJP protest on July 19 and 20. In the footage, the officers are heard telling organisers that Jantar Mantar is not suited for a demonstration of that scale, citing inadequate volunteer arrangements, the possibility of “criminal elements” entering the gathering, and repeated warnings allegedly issued to organisers before the protest.

The footage resurfaced on Monday (August 3), giving viewers the impression that protests had resumed. The police action comes shortly after student representatives visited Jantar Mantar to verify similar claims circulating online. They found no evidence of any protests after July 28, and urged action against accounts spreading misleading content.

Published - August 03, 2026 09:12 pm IST