Kerala Police Ask X to Remove Posts on ECI Letter With BJP Seal, Sparks Censorship Debate

A request by Kerala Police to remove certain posts from X has sparked debate over online censorship after users shared an old letter from the Election Commission of India that mistakenly carried the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Kerala unit.

The police reportedly asked the platform to take down posts circulating the document, claiming the content insults a national institution and could harm communal harmony. The move drew attention because the state's chief electoral officer had already acknowledged that the presence of the BJP symbol on the letter was due to a clerical error.

The document, dated March 2019, explained Election Commission guidelines on how political parties must disclose the criminal records of their candidates. It came under scrutiny after it was posted online by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Users soon noticed that the layout displayed the BJP's party symbol, triggering widespread discussion on social media.

Soon after the issue surfaced, the Kerala chief electoral officer clarified that the inclusion of the symbol was accidental and confirmed that the official responsible had been suspended pending investigation.

However, several users later reported receiving notices from X stating that the police had requested the removal of posts related to the letter. Journalist Piyush Rai and Congress leader Ruchira Chaturvedi were among those who said they received such alerts from the platform.

The police communication cited provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT Rules, 2021, which require digital platforms to remove flagged content once notified by authorities. According to the notice, continued circulation of the letter could damage the credibility of the Election Commission and create tensions between political groups.

The request has drawn criticism from journalists and political leaders, who argue that discussion about an acknowledged clerical mistake should not be treated as a threat to public order. Critics say the move risks raising concerns about transparency and the growing use of takedown requests to regulate online political discourse.