Nagpur Police have registered a case against Sanjay Kumar, an official of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), regarding a controversial social media post related to the Maharashtra elections.
Nagpur: Sanjay Kumar, a senior official of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), has run into trouble over a controversial social media post related to the Maharashtra Elections (Maharashtra Elections 2025). Nagpur Police have registered an FIR against him. The allegation is that Sanjay Kumar shared incorrect data on his official social media account, which could potentially influence the election process.
This case has become a subject of discussion not only in India but also globally, as it directly impacts fake news, electoral transparency, and democratic processes.
What is the whole matter?
The Nagpur Police took this action based on a complaint filed by Ramesh Kolpe, Tehsildar of Ramtek tehsil. The allegation is that Sanjay Kumar wrote in a tweet that "there has been a decrease of 38% votes between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections." The opposition parties weaponized this misinformation related to the election, raising questions about the functioning of the Election Commission.
After this, the dispute deepened, and the police registered an FIR under sections 175, 353, 212, 340, and 356 of the Indian Penal Code (BNS). Police officers said that the Delhi Election Commission has also been informed about this matter so that such incidents can be prevented in the future.
What did Sanjay Kumar say?
After the FIR was registered, Sanjay Kumar apologized on his social media account (X, formerly Twitter), saying:
'I sincerely apologize for the tweet posted regarding the Maharashtra elections. An error occurred while comparing the data of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Our data team misread the figures given in the row. The tweet has been deleted. I had no intention of spreading any kind of misinformation.'
This statement by Sanjay Kumar clarifies that it was a technical error, but legally it has been considered a serious offense because incorrect information on sensitive issues such as elections can spread confusion in society.
Global Context of Elections and Fake News
This matter is not limited to India alone. Across the world, fake news and incorrect data during elections have become the biggest challenge for democracy.
- America (US Elections 2020): There, misinformation and fake data during the elections increased political polarization.
- Brazil (Brazil Elections 2022): Rumors spread on WhatsApp and social media affected the electoral environment.
- Europe: Many countries have increased monitoring on social media platforms during elections to immediately stop incorrect information.
In a democratic country like India, this issue is also extremely sensitive. Especially when an official associated with a senior research institute makes such a mistake, both his credibility and political influence come under question.
