Now Reading: Delhi Police sent Meta over 100 takedown notices for Bhatti
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Delhi Police sent Meta over 100 takedown notices for Bhatti
The Delhi Police has sent more than 100 takedown requests to Meta in the past 10 months to remove social media profiles linked to Pakistani gangster Shehzad Bhatti, who is accused of…
The Delhi Police has sent more than 100 takedown requests to Meta in the past 10 months to remove social media profiles linked to Pakistani gangster Shehzad Bhatti, who is accused of using Instagram to recruit young men in India for criminal activities targeting uniformed personnel. The Special Cell began a crackdown in October 2025 and has arrested several associates in connection with arms trade and terror planning.
Police said Bhatti used profiles with "333" in the username, such as shehzadbhatti333, to lure unemployed youth with promises of wealth and a life abroad. Associates include people from varied backgrounds, from MBA graduates to labourers, some willing to work for as little as Rs 10,000-15,000. Meta has integrated with the government's Sahyog Portal to allow automated blocking, but Bhatti continues to operate using VPNs.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The case highlights the challenge of policing cross-border online radicalisation when the handler operates from Pakistan. Bhatti's network is notable for its low cost and broad recruitment base, targeting men with no criminal record. The Union Home Ministry has proposed designating him a terrorist, a legal step that would allow seizure of assets and faster extradition requests. The effectiveness of the Sahyog Portal integration with Meta depends on how quickly new profiles are detected after old ones are taken down. The number of arrests that follow each takedown notice will be the real measure of disruption.
Source: theprint.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
