Can CRPF Officers Express Political Views Online? What Rules Say Amid Sonia Sehrawat Row

Last Updated:July 23, 2026, 14:35 IST

As RAF officer Sonia Sehrawat comes under scrutiny over a viral Instagram Story, here's what the CRPF's social media rules permit and prohibit.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) officer Sonia Sehrawat’s viral Instagram Story after the July 20 protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has put the social media conduct of Central Reserve Police Force personnel under scrutiny.

Senior CRPF sources told News18 that Sehrawat is likely to be asked to explain her online activity after a preliminary assessment found prima facie indications of possible violations of the force’s social media guidelines. Officials stressed that no conclusion has been reached and that any further decision will be taken only after her explanation is considered.

“The top brass will seek an explanation. This has already been communicated to her," a senior officer aware of the development told News18.

The controversy has raised a broader question: can serving CRPF personnel express political or controversial views on personal social media accounts?

What Triggered The Sonia Sehrawat Row?

Sehrawat, an Assistant Commandant with the RAF, was part of the contingent deployed during the Cockroach Janata Party-led protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. RAF is the specialised wing of the CRPF deployed for riot control, crowd management and other law-and-order duties.

A day after clashes between protesters and security personnel, an Instagram Story shared from her account went viral. It carried an image of an apparently dead cockroach with the words: “Can’t fix themselves and they wanna fix the country."

The post was widely interpreted as referring to the protesters. The CJP accused Sehrawat of equating protesters with cockroaches. “But you see, we are cockroaches. And cockroaches never die!" it said in a post on X.

Sehrawat was also among the RAF personnel injured during the clashes. Sources said she suffered a fracture and a shoulder injury and has not resumed duty since July 20.

She later told NDTV that “rowdy individuals" and “anti-social elements" had mixed with the student protesters and attacked security personnel with stones, shoes and glass bottles. She said she was injured while trying to protect women during the violence.

What Do The CRPF’s Social Media Rules Say?

The CRPF issued a fresh set of social media guidelines in January 2023 after noticing that some personnel were using online platforms to air personal grievances. The force said such conduct violated the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, and could attract disciplinary action.

The two-page circular instructed personnel not to make adverse comments on government policies or political or religious statements in public forums. It also asked them not to comment on “controversial, sensitive or political matters that may come back to haunt" them later.

Personnel were told not to do anything on social networking platforms that could harm their own reputation or that of the government. They were also advised not to post anything out of anger, spite or under the influence of alcohol, or bully or discriminate against anyone online.

The guidelines require personnel to distinguish between fact and opinion and clarify that they are not representing the government’s position. They also state that individuals are personally responsible for content they publish on blogs, social media platforms, wikis or other forms of user-generated content.

Personnel were further advised to exercise utmost discretion while commenting on sensitive, gender-related or controversial issues online.

The Rules Also Cover Security And Privacy

The 2023 advisory also bars personnel from revealing their exact posting or the nature of their work when serving in a sensitive ministry or organisation.

It prohibits sharing information through unauthorised platforms, even when it appears unclassified or innocuous. The circular cited manpower matters, promotions and local orders as examples of information that could help adversaries gather intelligence.

Personnel were also advised to protect the privacy of their family and friends, exercise caution while accepting requests from unknown users and avoid unnecessary sharing of personal or location-related information.

Why The Rules Matter For RAF Personnel

The RAF is regularly deployed at protests, political demonstrations, communal disturbances and other sensitive public-order situations.

Its personnel are required to handle such deployments as members of a professional force. Public comments linked to a protest or political group can therefore draw scrutiny under rules that restrict political statements and comments on controversial matters.

About the Author

Karishma Jain

Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo...Read More

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