Ludhiana cybercrime police filed an FIR on December 12, 2025—surfacing publicly on January 1, 2026—against RTI activist Manik Goyal and nine social media influencers for spreading “distorted, unverified” claims about Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s helicopter use during his December 1-10 Japan-South Korea trip.
Posts featured chopper visuals and flight data questioning unauthorized flights in the CM’s absence, naming influencers like Mintu Gurusaria, Gagan Ramgarhia, Harman Farmer, Mandeep Makkar, Gurlal S Mann, Snammu Dhaliwal, Arjan, Deep Mangil, and Lok Awaz TV.
FIR Details
Filed by Inspector Satbir Singh under BNS Sections 353(1) for false info/rumors via electronic means, 353(2) for inciting enmity, and 61(2) for conspiracy. FIR cites social media monitoring flagging “erroneous flight-tracking interpretations” and “fabricated narratives” lacking facts.
Police Statement
ADCP Cybercrime Vaibhav Sehgal confirmed ongoing probe post-preliminary review of posts, emphasizing no disruption to public order yet.
Context
The case stems from ignored RTIs on chopper expenses; opposition decries it as suppressing dissent amid Punjab’s political tensions.
