Influencer faces FIR after lying on busy zebra crossing in Indore; phone seized
Indore: Tukoganj police have registered a first information report against a local social-media influencer after a video circulated on social platforms showed her lying on the zebra crossing at Lantern Square, blocking movement and creating a potential risk of an accident, officials said.
The accused has been identified as Prakriti Gaur, a resident of Khajrana, according to the Tukoganj police. The FIR was filed under Sections 270 and 285 of the BNS, the police said, following detection of the clip by the force's social media monitoring cell.
Tukoganj police station in-charge Jitendra Singh said the video, which was posted on Gaur's social-media account, showed her lying on the road while recording a reel. He said the act obstructed commuters and created the possibility of an accident, prompting the authorities to summon Gaur for questioning and register a case.
“She was seen lying on the road while making the reel, blocking the movement of commuters and creating a possibility of an accident,” said Jitendra Singh, Tukoganj police station in-charge, according to the police report.
Police said they have seized the mobile phone allegedly used to record the video as part of the investigation. No further details on charges beyond the FIR were provided by the station in-charge, who said further legal action was being taken.
- Location: Lantern Square, Indore.
- Accused: Prakriti Gaur, resident of Khajrana.
- Registered under: Sections 270 and 285 of BNS, Tukoganj police.
- Action taken: FIR registered, accused summoned, mobile phone seized.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Police unit | Tukoganj police; social media monitoring cell |
| Alleged offence | Obstructing traffic; creating risk of accident |
| Evidence seized | Mobile phone used for recording |
After the video gained wide circulation, Gaur posted a follow-up clip in which she expressed regret, stating that parts of the original video had been shown out of context and that she had not intended to violate traffic rules. In that post she also said she would exercise greater caution while shooting videos at public places in the future, according to the police account of events.
The incident highlights growing concerns among city authorities over public safety and the conduct of content creators using busy urban spaces as backdrops for social-media material. Tukoganj police said their monitoring cell routinely scans online platforms to identify posts that may endanger public order or safety and that appropriate action will be taken when rules are violated.
Traffic disruption and risk to commuters were cited as the primary reasons for registering the FIR, with the police emphasising that public thoroughfares cannot be used in ways that obstruct movement or jeopardise safety. The station in-charge indicated that the investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the recording and whether additional provisions of law apply.
Local residents and commuter groups have in recent years criticised dangerous stunts on roads and public spaces carried out for social-media attention. City officials have periodically warned creators against endangering others for content, and law-enforcement agencies have used existing sections of the penal code and motor-vehicle rules to prosecute such acts when they pose clear risks.
The Tukoganj police said further procedural steps, including any charges that may be framed and the outcome of forensic examination of the seized device, will be announced as the inquiry progresses.
Implications for Indore: The case is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of influencer activity in public spaces and could influence municipal and police advisories around the permitted use of busy junctions and crossings for filming. It also underlines the role of police social-media units in identifying behaviour that may threaten road safety.
