Simran Patel, a 47‑year‑old content creator from Adajan, livestreamed a reel between 1 pm and 6 pm on October 1, 2026, the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, showing a 500‑rupee note bearing Mahatma Gandhi’s image being handled in a disrespectful way. Her video, shared across Instagram and other platforms, quickly amassed attention from her 1 million‑strong follower base.
Dharmesh Gami, a local social worker, alerted the Surat Crime Branch after seeing the reel. Police responded by posting a clip on their X handle that juxtaposed Patel holding the note with footage of her in handcuffs, accompanied by her apology video. The incident triggered a Section 67 Information Technology Act case for publishing obscene material in electronic form.
Patel, who moved to Surat 17 years ago after marriage, has been producing short videos since completing Class 12. The arrest has sparked debate among netizens about the fine line between creative expression and disrespectful content involving national icons.
The Surat Crime Branch will present the case to the court on October 6, where the influencer will face preliminary questioning and potential sentencing. Police have urged citizens to refrain from posting content that could incite social discord.