NEW DELHI: A 30-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur district has filed a police complaint against her husband, alleging that his interference in her social media activities led to a drop in her Instagram followers, Indian media reported.
The woman, identified as Nisha, claimed that her husband, Vijender, was placing excessive demands on her to prioritise household responsibilities, leaving her with little time to create content for her Instagram account.
Nisha, who reportedly uploads up to two reels daily, told police that the lack of time and mental space caused by her husband’s behaviour directly impacted her visibility and engagement on the platform.
“My followers declined as I was kept busy washing utensils and cleaning the house by my husband,” she said, according to The Deccan Herald.
The dispute reportedly escalated following a heated argument, after which Nisha left her in-laws’ home and moved to her parental residence in Pilkhuwa town.
There, she approached the local police station to lodge a formal complaint, citing a violation of her “digital freedom”, News18 reported.
The complaint was registered at the Pilkhuwa police station. While no charges were formally filed, the Station House Officer (SHO), Aruna Rai, confirmed that the matter was under preliminary investigation.
“When the husband presented his side, we stepped in to mediate and the couple were counselled,” Rai told The Independent.
According to the SHO, Vijender filed a counter-complaint in response, claiming that Nisha’s growing focus on social media had led her to neglect household responsibilities.
He also alleged that she had threatened to leave him if she was not allowed to continue posting content online.
The matter has since been resolved legally, and Nisha has withdrawn her complaint following counselling by police. However, News18 reported that the couple remain separated and are living apart.
The fallout from the incident reportedly had further consequences. Vijender has lost his job amid the ongoing domestic tensions and is currently struggling to find new employment, according to The Independent.
This unusual case has sparked discussion across social platforms, highlighting the growing influence of digital livelihoods, and the conflicts that can arise when personal and professional lives clash in the age of social media.
