MUMBAI — Indian authorities used expedited takedown rules in March 2026 to direct social media platforms to block satirical content mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resulting in the withholding of dozens of accounts across X, Instagram and Facebook. The Delhi High Court subsequently ordered one of those accounts reinstated, according to court filings.

Indian satirists, cartoonists and comedians had posted content targeting Modi on multiple platforms. Cartoonist Satish Acharya drew a cartoon depicting Modi wearing a gag and closing his eyes to news about the war. Instagram user Namaskaar reworked a popular hymn into a song appealing to Modi to use his friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resolve India's fuel shortage. Comedian Pulkit Mani performed mimicry of Modi's demeanor, including his exuberance and hugs, during meetings with world leaders.

Several social media accounts and posts, including those of Acharya and Mani, were withheld in India. X and Meta stated in emails shared by dozens of users that they withheld content in response to legal requests by Indian authorities. Some of the withheld accounts belonged to independent journalists and satirists who had hundreds of thousands of followers. One belonged to a legislator from the opposition Trinamool Congress party.

India shortened the compliance window for social media companies to remove posts flagged as illegal by authorities from 36 hours to three hours in 2025. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also proposed rules to restrict content creators and hold platforms directly accountable for the content they host. "India's content takedown regime is the most aggressive timeline for any jurisdiction in the world," technology lawyer Akash Karmakar said. "A three-hour takedown deadline leaves it open to misuse."

"The chances of obtaining a court reprieve within three hours are 0.00%," Karmakar said. Internet policy researcher Prateek Waghre said that takedown orders often come from both the police and the federal ministry, and that in most cases users are not told why their content is being blocked.

X emailed Prateek Sharma, the operator of the satirical Dr Nimo Yadav account, in March 2026, saying that Indian authorities had requested the platform block his account. A government counsel told the Delhi High Court that Sharma's posts portrayed Modi in bad taste, according to court filings. The court directed X to reinstate Sharma's account while keeping the specific posts cited in the initial takedown order blocked.

Journalist Sagarika Ghose said, "When lawful speech is targeted for removal, it raises serious questions about the health of our democracy." Over the years, critics and satirists in India have been arrested, had lengthy court cases filed against them, or been doxxed online. Some have received death threats.