Delhi Police File Case Over Misinformation About Teachers Counting Stray Dogs

Delhi Police have registered a case against unidentified individuals for allegedly spreading false information claiming that school teachers had been directed to count stray dogs, officials confirmed on Friday. The case follows a formal complaint filed by the Directorate of Education (DoE) on Thursday.

According to a senior police officer, the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit is handling the investigation. “The case has been registered against unknown persons under sections 353(1) and 192 of the BNS,” the officer stated. These sections relate to publishing false statements intended to cause public mischief and giving provocation with intent to cause a riot, respectively.

In its complaint to the Civil Lines police station, the DoE alleged that “false, misleading, and malicious information” was being circulated on social media platforms regarding supposed directives for teachers to count stray dogs. The education department emphasized that no such instruction was ever issued.

The DoE clarified that a circular dated November 20, 2025, was issued solely to comply with Supreme Court directions in a suo moto writ petition titled “City hounded by strays, kids pay price.” The actual directive focused on ensuring student safety by preventing stray dog entry into school premises through the deployment of security staff.

“There has been no mention of any counting of stray dogs in the said circular,” the complaint stated. “The education department has also officially clarified, through its press note dated December 30, 2025, that no such directions have ever been issued.”

Education director Veditha Reddy addressed the issue on Thursday, stating that the misinformation was “completely false and fabricated.” She emphasized that teachers are only involved in academic activities and described the false narrative as “mischievous.”

The DoE’s complaint further alleged that the misinformation was deliberately spread to cause confusion and panic among teachers and school staff, damage the education department’s reputation, disrupt public order, undermine trust in government institutions, and breach social responsibility.

The controversy has taken on political dimensions, with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of spreading the fake news. “Taking strict action against the fake news spread by the Aam Aadmi Party, the Education Department has lodged a formal complaint at the Civil Lines Police Station,” Gupta posted on social media platform X. She characterized the incident as “a serious and well-planned attempt to demoralise our dedicated teachers and deliberately create mistrust in Delhi’s education system.”

The issue highlights growing concerns about misinformation on social media and its potential impact on public services and government institutions. False information spreading rapidly through digital channels has become a significant challenge for authorities, particularly when it affects essential services like education.

The police investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify the sources of the misinformation. The case underscores the increasing intersection of digital communication, public education, and law enforcement in addressing modern challenges of information integrity.