Overview
- Police arrested 47-year-old Simran Patel after tracing an Instagram account with about one million followers to a reel that drew public complaints.
- The reel was posted on October 1 and showed Mahatma Gandhi's portrait on a ₹500 note in what police say were sexually suggestive gestures, prompting a citizen complaint and rapid online sharing.
- Surat Cyber Crime Police Station registered the case under Section 67 of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, which covers publishing or transmitting obscene electronic material.
- The complaint was filed by Dharmesh Gami of Gau Raksha Manch and investigators carried out technical tracing before making the arrest; police say they are probing intent and the reel’s circulation path.
- Authorities have urged users not to share unverified or objectionable content and warned that creating or reposting material that insults national figures can lead to criminal charges, a trend seen in recent cyber‑crime enforcement.