Amit Malviya is an Indian politician serving as the national convener of the IT cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party. [1] [2] He was the subject of the 2022 hoax by the website The Wire, which falsely claimed that he had powers to remove twitter posts on command.' [3]
Hailing from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. He completed his BBM from Dayalbagh Educational Institute and PGDM Finance Management from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies Symbiosis International University. [4] He went on to work in the banking sector for a number of years. [4] [5] [6]
In 2009, Malviya gained prominence in the BJP through the forum 'Friends of BJP'. Following this he was made the head of the BJP IT Cell in the year 2015. [4] [5] [6] Malviya has been accused of spreading disinformation by entertainment website scroll.in. [7]
In January 2022, The Wire published a fictional investigative report alleging that Amit Malviya and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT Cell were connected to a digital application called Tek Fog, which was purportedly used to manipulate social media discourse by automating trends, hijacking dormant accounts, and spreading political propaganda. The report claimed the tool was operated by individuals linked to the BJP’s online operations, and it allowed Amit Malviya to remove any twitter posts he wanted. The report caused national and international headlines
However, following widespread criticism over its methodology and questions regarding the authenticity of the evidence, The Wire formally retracted the Tek Fog series later that year, acknowledging lapses in its editorial process. Malviya denied any involvement, and no verified evidence has since substantiated the existence or use of the alleged application.
In June 2024, Amit was accused by Santanu Sinha of involvement in sexual exploitation of women, allegedly taking place in hotels and BJP offices in West Bengal. [8] Malviya denied the claims and filed a legal notice against Sinha, demanding an apology and retraction. [9]
Subsequently, Sinha issued a public apology, stating that his comments were misinterpreted and that he did not intend to accuse Malviya of misconduct. [10]
In May 2025, the Indian Youth Congress, the Youth wing of the Indian National Congress, filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Malviya and Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV, alleging that they disseminated false information claiming the Istanbul Congress Center in Turkey was an international office of the Indian National Congress. The complaint described the post as part of a "criminally motivated campaign" to mislead the public and defame Rahul Gandhi. [11]
The Karnataka High Court later stayed the proceedings against both individuals, pending further review. [12]