Congress Leader Rajesh Soni Arrested for Social Media Posts on 'Operation Sindoor'

Gujarat Congress general secretary Rajesh Soni was arrested early Friday morning by the state Cyber Crime Cell for allegedly sharing misleading and potentially morale-damaging content about 'Operation Sindoor' on social media, according to news agency PTI.

Soni is accused of posting controversial statements on Facebook related to the recent military offensive, ‘Operation Sindoor’, carried out by Indian armed forces targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Police officials claim the posts were not only misleading but could also harm national security.

Bharatsinh Tank, Superintendent of Police (CID-Cyber Crime), said Soni’s posts had the potential to break the morale of the armed forces and threaten the country’s sovereignty. “The content was not only misleading but could demoralize our defence personnel and send the wrong message to the public,” Tank stated.

Soni has been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — specifically, Section 152, which deals with acts that endanger India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity, and Section 353(1)(a), which pertains to statements that can incite public mischief.

The case is based on two Facebook posts. In one, Soni shared an image promoting Operation Sindoor that featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a fighter pilot uniform. The caption in Gujarati read: “Please note that soldiers will not get the credit. The cost of his publicity will be double the cost of flying the Rafale in Operation Sindoor.” In another post, the FIR claims Soni suggested, despite knowing the facts, that the Indian government had surrendered during the operation—an allegation seen by police as an attempt to stir public discontent.

Defending the arrest, CID officer Tank said: “We detained him because his posts had the potential to demoralize the armed forces and mislead people into believing that soldiers’ sacrifices are being ignored.”

Soni’s arrest at around 4 a.m. triggered swift reactions from the Gujarat Congress, with several senior party leaders gathering at the CID office in Gandhinagar. Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil condemned the move, arguing that Soni was merely calling for proper recognition of soldiers' bravery and accountability in the use of public funds.

“Rajeshbhai Soni was arrested as if he were some kind of terrorist,” Gohil said. “If you actually read his posts, it’s clear he was simply urging that soldiers be given due credit and that public money not be used for political image-building in the name of Operation Sindoor.”