Mumbai: In a significant development, Maharashtra’s nodal cyber police have registered a case against popular influencer Dhruv Rathee for allegedly posting a fake message on his X handle, falsely claiming that Anjali Birla, daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, cleared the UPSC exams without appearing for them.
The police have charged Rathee under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including defamation, intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace, and making statements leading to public mischief. Additionally, he faces charges under the Information Technology Act.
The controversial post, made from a parody account named Dhruv Rathee (@dhruvrahtee), stated: “India is the only country where you can clear UPSC without sitting in the examination. But for that, you have to be born as a daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Om Birla’s daughter Anjali Birla cleared UPSC without taking any examination, she is a model by profession. Modi govt is making a mockery of our education system.”
Anjali Birla, aged 23, successfully passed the rigorous three-stage UPSC exams on her first attempt. Her name is listed on the merit roll for the Civil Services (Main) Exam 2019. The FIR was filed following a complaint by Anjali’s cousin, Naman Maheshwari¹².
This incident has sparked a debate on the responsibilities of social media influencers and the impact of misinformation on public figures. What are your thoughts on the role of influencers in today’s digital age?
