The National Commission for Child Rights (NCPCR) informed the Delhi High Court that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s tweet revealing the identity of a minor rape victim’s family is still accessible outside India. Although Twitter Inc. withheld the post in India following NCPCR’s notice, it remains accessible to the public in other countries. The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL, which is currently pending before Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.
In August 2021, Rahul Gandhi met the family of the minor girl who was allegedly raped, murdered, and cremated without her parents’ consent at Delhi’s Old Nangal crematorium. He expressed his support for the family and shared a picture of himself with the victim’s parents on Twitter.
The NCPCR stated that Twitter’s action of withholding the post in India doesn’t absolve the Social Media Company from accountability, as the tweet is still available worldwide, violating Indian laws that protect the identity of victims.
The commission received a complaint about the tweet on August 4, 2021, in which Rahul Gandhi disclosed the identity of the minor victim’s family by posting their photo on his Twitter handle @RahulGandhi. The post was later reposted by the verified account of Indian National Congress @INCindia, and it has been widely circulated on Twitter, perpetuating the violation of the law.
The Delhi High Court is examining the PIL, seeking action against Rahul Gandhi’s tweet and the circulation of the victim’s family photo. The petitioner claims that Rahul Gandhi violated the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and the POCSO Act, 2012, both of which prohibit the disclosure of a child victim’s identity.
Earlier, Twitter had taken down the tweet, and Rahul Gandhi’s Twitter account was temporarily blocked. However, the PIL seeks further legal action against him for the alleged disclosure of sensitive information about the rape victim and her family.
