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

Published 23 July 2026 · local

Can CRPF Officers Express Political Views Online? What Rules Say Amid Sonia Sehrawat Row Published By, Last Updated: July 23, 2026, 14:35 IST As RAF

Can CRPF Officers Express Political Views Online? What Rules Say Amid Sonia Sehrawat Row Published By, 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 Read RAF officer Sonia Sehrawat 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.