Andhra Pradesh HC Warns Magistrates: Follow Supreme Court Guidelines Before Remanding Social Media Offenders

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued a circular warning Judicial Magistrates against routinely remanding individuals accused in cases related to social media posts, without following Supreme Court guidelines laid down in the Arnesh Kumar and Imran Pratapgadhi cases. 

The circular, dated July  5, 2025, states that any violation may lead to contempt proceedings and departmental action. 

The Court stressed that magistrates must assess factors like repeat offences, risk of evidence tampering, and need for custodial interrogation before granting remand. 

The directive aims to curb arbitrary detentions and uphold procedural safeguards, especially in cases related to social media posts and comments.