You post a meme. It goes viral. It mocks a politician, questions a religious belief, or just hits too close to home for someone with connections.
Next thing you know? You’re being summoned to a police station.
In India, freedom of speech has limits, especially when humor is read as "intent to offend." Despite Section 66A of the IT Act being struck down by the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), many FIRs still misuse it. Add IPC Sections 295A (hurting religious sentiments) or 505 (public mischief), and suddenly your meme is a “threat to harmony.”
🔍 The legal bottom line:
Satire ≠ immunity
Viral ≠ legal
Humor ≠ harmless in law
📌 You can joke — just not beyond the state’s patience threshold.