New Delhi: Former senior bureaucrat Ashish Joshi was taken into custody from Nehru Park during his morning walk on Wednesday and questioned by the Delhi Police Special Cell on Wednesday in connection with his recent social media activity and was released later in the evening.
Joshi, a 1992-batch officer of the Indian Posts and Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS), was taken to the Special Cell’s Counter Intelligence unit in New Friends Colony, where he was questioned for several hours. Police said he was not arrested.
A police officer said the questioning was linked to a case registered by the Special Cell two days earlier. Reports citing police sources said the case was registered under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to allegedly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot.
Joshi Released After Questioning
Joshi was allowed to leave in the evening after the questioning. He later posted on X:
“Just got back home. Delhi Special Cell dropped me home. Details later.”
The police said Joshi cooperated with the investigation and was released after the questioning was completed.
Key Points
- Joshi retired on March 31, 2026, after serving as an Additional Secretary-ranked officer in the Government of India.
- He is a 1992-batch IP&TAFS officer.
- He previously served as Controller of Communications in the Department of Telecommunications.
Social Media Posts Under Scrutiny
Joshi has been active on X following his retirement and has posted comments critical of the government and on current political and administrative issues.
One of his recent posts concerning police action against students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar reportedly referred to a “massive showdown” between the Union Home Minister and Home Secretary. The post was subsequently withheld in India following a legal demand, according to reports.
The exact social media post or posts that formed the basis of the police questioning have not been publicly detailed by the Delhi Police.
Earlier Suspension in 2019
Joshi had also faced departmental action in 2019 after he sought action against then AAP MLA Kapil Mishra over a controversial social media video.
At the time, Joshi defended his action, saying: “I did not commit any crime.” He said he had acted as a public servant by informing the authorities concerned.
The latest questioning comes months after his retirement from government service.
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