The Allahabad High Court has concluded its hearing on a petition demanding the registration of an FIR against senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over remarks he made in the United States in 2024. After hearing arguments from all concerned parties, a single bench led by Justice Vikram D. Chauhan reserved its order. The petition was filed by Varanasi resident Nageshwar Mishra and others.
Background of the Controversy
The petition has been filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The petitioners based their plea on Rahul Gandhi's speech delivered on September 10, 2024, in the US, where he allegedly spoke about concerns regarding the safety, religious freedom, and rights of Sikhs to wear turbans and kadas and visit gurdwaras in India.
During his overseas tour, Gandhi had also criticized the ruling ideology and the RSS, claiming that India's diversity in languages, cultures, and traditions needs protection, sparking immense political friction back home.
From Varanasi Court to High Court
Initially, Nageshwar Mishra had approached the Sarnath police station seeking an FIR, but upon receiving no relief, approached a local court. On November 28, 2024, the ACJM-II court dismissed the application, noting that the alleged statements were made on foreign soil in the US and fell outside its territorial jurisdiction.
Challenging this, a revision petition was moved, bringing the matter before the Allahabad High Court. In his written submission on August 25, Rahul Gandhi termed the petition politically motivated, lacking any legal grounds for criminal prosecution, and presented himself as a true patriot deeply respectful of all communities. The High Court will now pronounce its verdict in due course.
This report is based on court proceedings, official filings, and public statements reported across verified media outlets. 'The Freelance' aims to present factual updates objectively. Source: Court records / Media reports.
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