Serious Action for Offensive Social Media Posts

Sharing Harmful Content May Lead to Jail Under New Law

Posting or forwarding content on social media that hurts religious sentiments, spreads caste hatred, or insults anyone can now be treated as a serious crime — even if shared “just for fun.”

Thane Police have issued a warning that not only the person who posts such messages, but also the one who forwards or is admin of the group can be held guilty. This is under the new Indian Penal Code (BNS), which allows 3 to 5 years’ jail for hate-based posts on religion, caste, or language.

Police stressed that people should check the message before forwarding it. Saying “I don’t know the source” won’t be accepted as an excuse.

Citizens are advised to avoid sharing unverified or offensive content on WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram. Police have started legal action in several such cases, and the new law will be enforced strictly.

Be alert, don’t fall for rumours, and act responsibly — that’s the police message.