Maharashtra Police demand X user data following criticism of political spouse

Maharashtra Cyber Police issued a legal notice on October 19, 2026, requiring X Corp to provide comprehensive user data associated with several accounts. The investigation stems from online posts directed at Amruta Fadnavis, spouse of the Maharashtra Chief Minister, which authorities characterize as defamatory and offensive. The notice invokes Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, as part of an ongoing probe into public mischief and IT Act violations.

The police request includes account registration details, mobile numbers, email addresses, login histories, and specific device identifiers. Investigators are also seeking metadata and IP-derived location information to identify the operators behind the accounts in question. Several of the flagged posts involved commentary on statements made by Fadnavis regarding religious inclusivity, which triggered significant social media backlash.

Legal analysts note that the breadth of the data request raises concerns regarding the proportionality of investigative tactics. Recent Supreme Court of India rulings have sought to limit police access to personal data, emphasizing the need to justify the scope of such demands to protect user privacy. X Corp is currently tasked with balancing these legal requirements against their internal policy on data disclosure.