Azad Samaj party leader booked by Bhopal crime branch:Action comes after he posts misleading information about shuttling of trains on ‘X’; probe underway

The Crime branch wing of Bhopal police on Saturday registered a case against Azad Samaj Party leader Sunil Aste for allegedly posting misleading information related to Indian Railways on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), officials said. According to officials, the accused shared several posts containing misleading and deceptive claims regarding train routes and passenger congestion during the festive season. The posts were made around Diwali, a period when millions of passengers travel by train across the country. RPF takes cognisance, apprises Crime branch of the issue The Railway Protection Force (RPF) took cognisance of the misleading posts and informed the senior officials of the Bhopal Crime branch. Based on intelligence inputs, the cyber-crime cell of Bhopal Crime Branch registered a case against Aste. Sub-Inspector Prabhunath Tiwari, posted at the Railway Protection Force’s Divisional Security Control Room in Bhopal, reported that the user of the handle ‘Sunil Aste’ had shared four misleading posts on October 19 and 20, 2025. These posts allegedly contained incorrect information about the Railways and the Central Government, aimed at creating public resentment and confusion. Posts made amid festive rush Additional DCP (Bhopal crime branch), Shailendra Singh Chouhan told Bhaskar English that the accused shared these posts during the peak festive travel season, coinciding with Diwali and Chhath Puja, when railway passenger volumes are extremely high. The misleading content was seen as an attempt to cause panic among travellers and undermine public trust in railway administration. Digital evidence under scanner A case has been registered based on the complaint and supporting evidence. The cyber-crime unit is currently analysing the posts and digital records related to the case. Authorities have also sought user details from platform ‘X’ to trace the digital trail. Once technical verification is complete, Aste is likely to be arrested, the officials said.