The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed by singer and activist Neha Singh Rathore concerning social media posts about the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Neha Singh Rathore had challenged the registered First Information Report (FIR).
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed by singer and activist Neha Singh Rathore, in which she sought the quashing of the First Information Report (FIR) registered against her regarding social media posts about the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The court refused to intervene in the matter at this stage, directing her to face trial.
Supreme Court's Decision
A bench of the apex court, comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi, clarified that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case. The court stated that it would not be appropriate to intervene at this stage regarding 'charges of sedition' and issues affecting India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity. The Supreme Court also added that Rathore would have the liberty to raise her concerns once charges are framed.
The singer had challenged the Allahabad High Court's order of September 19, which had refused to quash the FIR. The FIR accused Rathore of making social media posts targeting a specific religious community and endangering the country's unity. Rathore had challenged the FIR filed at Hazratganj police station in the last week of April. In this FIR, a person named Abhay Pratap Singh accused her of 'inciting one community against another on religious grounds.'
Neha Singh Rathore's Argument
In her petition, Neha Singh Rathore stated that action is being taken against her under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These include:
- Spreading communal hatred
- Breaching public peace
- Threatening India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity
Additionally, she has also been charged under the Information Technology Act. In her petition, she claimed that the case registered against her is unfair and unconstitutional. The Supreme Court stated that it is not currently commenting on the investigation of the case or the validity of the charges. The court granted Rathore the right to exercise her legal rights during the trial process.
