Ex-bureaucrat Ashish Joshi detained by Delhi Police Special Cell over X post, says Congress leader

Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested former bureaucrat Ashish Joshi after a post he made on the social media platform X drew official attention. The detention was confirmed by a senior Congress leader who said the police acted on the content of the post. No further details about the alleged material have been released by the police, and Joshi has not yet been formally charged. The Special Cell, which handles cases with potential security implications, is expected to interrogate Joshi to ascertain whether any laws were violated. The incident adds to a growing scrutiny of online speech by public officials in the capital.

The Congress leader, speaking to media outlets, declined to disclose the exact wording of the X post but emphasized that any breach of law must be investigated irrespective of the individual's former position. Legal experts note that while freedom of expression is protected, it does not shield defamatory or incendiary content that may threaten public order.

Authorities have not announced a timeline for Joshi’s appearance before a court, and his legal counsel is expected to seek bail. The case is being closely watched as it may set a precedent for how former government officials are held accountable for their social media activity.