FIR against 53 social media accounts

Lucknow: In a major crackdown on social media misinformation, the Uttar Pradesh Police have registered an FIR against 53 social media accounts for allegedly spreading false information about the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj over the past month.
Following strict directives from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to combat fake news about Maha Kumbh, DGP Prashant Kumar implemented a comprehensive action plan. The UP Police, in collaboration with expert agencies, conducted continuous cyber patrolling to monitor and counter misleading posts and rumors related to the event.
On Feb 13, 2025, two misleading videos were identified. The first claimed a fire incident at Maha Kumbh bus stand, but the footage was actually from a 2020 pipeline fire in Cairo. The second video misrepresented scenes from a Nov 2024 film promotion event in Patna, portraying it as an incident at Kumbh. As a result, seven social media accounts faced charges for sharing false fire video, while 15 accounts were booked for spreading misinformation about the Patna event.