Telangana HC Quashes X User-Data Notice, Finds No Reference to Petitioner in FIR [Read Order]

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has set aside a notice issued by the Hyderabad police to X (formerly Twitter) seeking a petitioner's user data in connection with an attempt-to-murder case, after finding that the FIR contained no reference to him whatsoever.

The Bench of Justice Tangirala Madhavi Devi was hearing a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by P. Rajgopal, challenging a notice dated 06.08.2026 issued under Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, by the Inspector of Police, Commissioner's Task Force, Rajendranagar Zone, Hyderabad. The notice, addressed to X, sought the petitioner's basic user information, registration details, linked mobile number, linked e-mail ID, particulars of devices used or logged in, and IP logs pertaining to the petitioner and the X account, in connection with Crime No. 404 of 2026 registered at Falaknuma Police Station. The petitioner contended that the notice was illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction, without any nexus to the offence under investigation, disproportionate, and violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution.

Along with the writ petition, the petitioner also moved two interlocutory applications under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, seeking suspension of the impugned notice pending disposal of the writ petition, and a direction restraining the respondents from taking any coercive action against him on the basis of the notice or any information obtained thereunder.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the details of the petitioner's Twitter account were already available in the impugned notice itself, rendering the request to X for further details pointless. It was further submitted that the FIR in Crime No. 404 of 2026, dated 30.07.2026, did not name the petitioner as an accused, and that he apprehended being implicated in the case without any basis. The Assistant Government Pleader for Home, appearing for the respondents, opposed the prayer.

On perusing the recitals of the FIR filed along with the writ petition, the Court recorded its prima facie opinion that there was no basis for issuance of the notice under Section 94 of the BNSS. It observed:

"On going through the recitals in FIR No.404/2026, dated 30.07.2026 filed along with the writ petition, this Court finds that there is no reference to the petitioner in any way and is therefore of the prima facie opinion that there is no basis for the issuance of the notice under Section 94 of BNSS to X (Twitter)."

Accordingly, the Court set aside the impugned notice insofar as it proceeded on the premise that the petitioner was involved in Crime No. 404 of 2026, and directed the respondents not to take any coercive steps against the petitioner without any basis and without following due process of law.

The writ petition was disposed of with no order as to costs, and the pending interlocutory applications were closed.

Case Title : P. Rajgopal v. The State of Telangana and Others [W.P. No. 26326 of 2026]

[Read Order]