Since the Union government launched the Sahyog portal in March 2024, projecting it as a tool to combat cybercrime, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued 91 takedown notices to X Corp over nearly two years, flagging more than 1,100 URLs, The Indian Express reported.
Records reviewed by The Indian Express show that over half of these URLs, 566 in total, were flagged for allegedly “disturbing public order,” followed by 124 for content targeting political and public figures.
According to an MHA compilation filed before the Delhi High Court, 58 takedown notices were issued in 2024 alone, including 24 invoking provisions related to public tranquillity and promoting enmity, while three others cited threats to national integrity and sovereignty.
Only 14 of the 91 notices alleged criminal activity such as promotion of betting apps, impersonation of official handles with the potential for financial fraud, and circulation of child sexual abuse material.
The largest single notice, issued on May 13, 2024, flagged 115 URLs over an allegedly doctored video accused of spreading misinformation to influence ongoing electoral processes.
In its affidavit filed through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the MHA said X Corp had objected to both the authority and legality of takedown directions issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act.
During the Lok Sabha elections in April–May 2024, a total of 761 URLs were flagged, including 198 poll-related links cited as violations of the Representation of the People’s Act.
The analysis also revealed spikes in takedown notices during politically sensitive periods such as the 2024 general elections and Operation Sindoor in 2025.
Several notices sought removal of allegedly manipulated or defamatory content involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and ICC chairman Jay Shah.
X Corp has challenged the Sahyog portal’s legitimacy before the Karnataka High Court, arguing that content blocking must follow the judicial safeguards under Section 69A of the IT Act, and warning that the use of Section 79(3)(b) enables censorship without due process while expanding executive control over online speech.
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