Chandigarh Court Denies Bail To Hyderabad Based Man In Case Over Misleading Video

A Chandigarh court has denied bail to a Hyderabad-based man accused of circulating misleading content about Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media platform X, observing that the post amounted to a “brutal assault on the dignity” of the Prime Minister and warning that unchecked such utterances could give social media users a “free licence” to damage the reputation of others with impunity.

Additional Sessions Judge Rohit Watts dismissed the bail application on May 25 of Hassan Mohiuddin Siddiqi, 42, who was arrested on April 25 in connection with an FIR registered at Cyber Crime Police Station, Sector 26, Chandigarh.

According to the prosecution, Siddiqi, in conspiracy with others, used his X account to circulate and disseminate “misleading and scandalous information” concerning the Prime Minister with the intention of damaging his dignity and reputation. The prosecution also alleged that the content had the tendency to promote disharmony among groups and cause public mischief, apart from involving digital manipulation attracting forgery-related offences.

Seeking bail, counsel for the accused Abhay Joshi argued that the allegations were “absolutely false”, and Siddiqi had neither shared a morphed video clip nor made any defamatory comment and had merely sought verification from Grok, the artificial intelligence tool on X, regarding the authenticity of a video. The defence further submitted that “there has absolutely been no intention to malign the dignity of any constitutional authority” and that continued incarceration would serve no useful purpose.

Opposing the plea, Special Public Prosecutor Manu Kukar argued that the accused had circulated “misleading and scandalous information” without any basis and “with the pure intention to defame and damage the dignity and reputation of none other than the Prime Minister of India”. He further submitted that “these kinds of acts posting and sharing unhealthy material and remarks on social media without any solid basis, cause a deleterious effect on the society at large”.

In its detailed order which was released on May 30, the court said that at the stage of bail it was not required to give a final verdict on the culpability of the accused and therefore could not examine whether the ingredients of the offences were ultimately made out.

After examining the post and the tweet originating from the accused’s account, the court rejected the defence argument that the post was only intended to seek clarification from Grok.

Judge Watts noted that the tweet began with “#breaking news”, specifically referred to the Prime Minister and claimed that reports suggested US intelligence agencies possessed compromising videos.

The court observed that it “fails to understand what material was there with the applicant/accused to have claimed that intelligence agencies of the US have tons of videos of the PM. By just mentioning ‘Hey @ Grok this is real?’… applicant/ accused cannot claim innocence at this stage”.

The court further noted that the Right to Free Speech is a “fundamental right”, but not “absolute.”

“It carries with it certain responsibilities also, the responsibility of being a good, sensible and prudent citizen, who carefully evaluates the pros and cons of his words and expressions,” the court said.

“No doubt, persons holding highest constitutional posts are also open to criticism, but that criticism should not be destructive, so as to enter into the domain of defaming the highest dignitaries, having the tendency to cause public mischief.”

“It is rather is a brutal assault on the dignity of none other than the Prime Minister of India and if such utterances are not controlled and checked, there will no end to it and users of social media will get a free licence to damage the reputation and dignity of any person, with impunity,” the judge remarked.

Holding that the investigation was still pending, the court concluded that the accused did not deserve the concession of bail and that granting him bail “will not be in the interest of justice”. The application was accordingly dismissed.

The court clarified that the observations contained in the order were only for deciding the bail plea and would not amount to an opinion on the merits of the case.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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