Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur

Nagpur, Mar 20: The Nagpur Police have registered a sedition case against Fahim Khan, the alleged mastermind behind the March 17 violence, along with five others.

Khan, who has already been arrested, has been remanded to judicial custody until March 20. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lohit Matani of Nagpur Cyber Crime stated that the case was filed against six individuals, including Khan, for allegedly inciting and supporting the violence against the police. He indicated that the number of accused could rise as the investigation progresses. Some individuals allegedly made comments in support of the attack, further intensifying the riots.

Authorities have scrutinized over 300 social media accounts in connection with the violence, with 140 of them found to contain objectionable posts and videos. Legal proceedings are underway against these accounts, Matani confirmed.

Preliminary investigations suggest that some of the provocative content was circulated from accounts outside Nagpur. The police are also investigating whether any of these accounts originate from outside India. Fahim Khan’s personal social media accounts have been analyzed, revealing objectionable content, which has led to additional charges against him.

Matani stated that officials are also probing a possible Bangladesh connection to the Nagpur riots. However, he clarified that merely mentioning "Bangladesh" in social media posts does not establish a direct link, and a detailed investigation is required.

So far, four First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed in connection with the riots, listing more than 50 allegations. More FIRs are expected to follow as the probe expands.

The Maharashtra State Cyber Department has identified and flagged over 140 instances of inflammatory content across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. In response, notices under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, have been issued to ensure the immediate removal of such content. Additionally, authorities have invoked Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to trace the identities behind these accounts.

Officials have warned that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for spreading provocative content and inciting violence.