Maha Kumbh 2025: Police Register FIRs Against 140 Social Media Handles for Spreading Misinformation

As part of a collective effort to deal with the spread of wrong information during the current Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Police registered 13 First Information Reports (FIRs) against 140 social media handles. The accounts are said to have posted false and objectionable information about the event.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Maha Kumbh Vaibhav Krishna said, “13 FIRs have been registered against 140 social media handles that put out misleading information.” This reflects the determination of the authorities in ensuring the religious congregation’s sanctity and safety.

A significant case was the viral video of a 2022 train fire that took place at Bangladesh’s Parbat Express that was misleadingly attributed to Maha Kumbh, citing that “300 people died in a train fire on 14 February 2025 while heading to Mahakumbh.” Such misinformation led to immediate legal action to block public panic as well as ensure the reputation of the event is safeguarded.

Besides countering misinformation, the police are keeping a close watch on social media websites after objectionable videos of women pilgrims bathing at the Triveni Sangam came to light. Legal action is being initiated to counter these privacy and dignity violations.

As the festival reaches its end, with Maha Shivratri on February 26, 2025, officials expect a huge rush of pilgrims. DIG Krishna guaranteed that elaborate arrangements have been made to handle the crowd and see that the proceedings are smooth. Efforts are made to keep traffic from congesting and also to keep things in order all over the event venue.

So far, the Uttar Pradesh government’s Information Department states that around 62 crore (620 million) pilgrims have visited the Maha Kumbh, with almost 87 lakh (8.7 million) taking the sacred bath on a single day. The administration reiterates the need to cross-verify information from authentic sources in order to avoid spreading false reports during the pious event.