The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has, through its counsel Advocate Abhik Chimni, issued a legal notice to the Delhi Police seeking withdrawal of two content-removal reports allegedly submitted in the name of the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) to X Corp. The notice, dated November 3, 2026, states that the reports sought the removal of an IFF post published on October 30 and a post by the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC). Another report allegedly sought the removal of 37 posts and the withholding of three accounts belonging to IFF, SFLC and GeoBlocked India, on the ground that the content defamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). IFF stated that it learnt of the reports only after X Corp. forwarded copies on November 3.

The notice stated that criminal defamation is a non-cognizable offence and that, Section 222 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), cognizance can be taken only upon a complaint by the person aggrieved. It further stated that police cannot investigate such an offence without a Magistrate’s order under Section 174 of the BNSS. Citing the Supreme Court’s judgment in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, (2015) 5 SCC 1, the notice asserts that the takedown requests do not satisfy the requirements of Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, read with the IT Rules, 2021, as they do not identify any complaint, FIR or judicial order authorising the action.

IFF has called upon the Delhi Police to withdraw the reports within seven days, provide copies of the complaint and the authority under which they were submitted, and confirm that no further takedown requests will be made in the matter. It has also asked X Corp. not to act on the reports pending their withdrawal or adjudication.