Sanjay Kumar had posted incorrect voter data on X, later issuing a public apology and clarification. FIRs were registered in Nashik and Nagpur under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, August 25, 2025 – The Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings in the FIRs registered by Maharashtra police against Professor Sanjay Kumar, psephologist and Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), over a tweet containing a mistaken analysis of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice NV Anjaria passed the interim order while issuing notice on the writ petition filed by Kumar seeking the quashing of the FIRs.
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On August 17, Kumar posted on his X account about changes in voter numbers across certain constituencies. Realizing the analysis was incorrect, he issued an apology on August 19, clarifying the mistake. Despite this, officers reporting to the Election Commission of India (ECI) registered two FIRs — one in Nashik and another in Nagpur — invoking sections 175, 353(1)(b), 212, 340(1)(2), and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Supreme Court stays FIRs against former CSDS director and renowned political analyst Sanjay Kumar.
The FIRs followed Kumar’s tweets claiming significant voter number discrepancies in the 2024 Maharashtra elections. The tweets were later deleted by Kumar citing data errors.… pic.twitter.com/D1KOTmQM8U
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) August 25, 2025
Seeking relief from the Supreme Court, Kumar argued that the FIRs are baseless and constitute an abuse of state power. “A tweet giving incorrect information cannot serve as the foundation for FIRs under serious criminal sections such as forgery. There was no criminal intent; the error was inadvertent and promptly corrected with a public apology,” he contended.
Kumar further stated, “Officers reporting to the ECI have lodged FIRs against a respected professor and public intellectual over a minor technical mistake. Such actions violate fundamental principles of fairness and natural justice and risk creating a chilling effect on free speech.”
The petition was filed through Advocate-on-Record Sumeer Sodhi, and the Supreme Court’s interim order provides temporary relief while the matter is considered.
