UP Court Rejects Closure Report Against RJD Spokesperson Accused Of Tearing 'Manusmriti' During Live TV Debate

A Court in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh District recently rejected a closure report submitted by police in the FIR registered against RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti for allegedly tearing a copy of the Manusmriti during a live TV debate. Civil Judge (Senior Div.)/ACJM Aligarh Rashi Tomar directed the Station House Officer of Police Station Rorawar to conduct a further investigation and submit a fresh report without delay. The order was passed on a protest petition filed by the Organisation Secretary of Rashtriya Savarna Parishad, Acharya Bharat Tiwari, who happens to be the informant on whose complaint an FIR was initially lodged against Bharti under Section 299 BNS [Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs]. In his complaint, Tiwari had alleged that on 29 December 2024, Bharti, in a premeditated manner, committed a grave insult to the sacred text Manusmriti by tearing it on live television, which caused immense hurt to the sentiments of crores of devotees. It was further alleged that she gave false information about Manusmriti to create riots across the country. The video of the incident was widely circulated through television and mobile platforms. Following an investigation, the IO filed a closure report stating that the incident had occurred in Delhi or some other place and hence no offence had taken place within the jurisdiction of Aligarh. Against this, the complainant filed a protest plea, mainly contending that the Aligarh Police had submitted the final report in the above offence on the basis of concocted and false facts and without conducting an impartial investigation. Against this backdrop, keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, the Court prima facie found it just to set aside the final report and direct further investigation in the matter. In related news, in March this year, the Allahabad High Court refused to quash the FIR against Bharti. Seeking quashing of the FIR, she had moved the HC, arguing that there was no intention or deliberate attempt knowingly or unknowingly on her part to insult the sentiments and feelings of any person or religion, and in any case, her act does not amount to affect the public order. The bench had, however, observed that the act of tearing pages of 'Manusmriti' in a live TV debate prima facie amounts to a cognizable offence.Tiwari was represented by Advocate Arun Kumar.

UP Court Rejects Closure Report Against RJD Spokesperson Accused Of Tearing 'Manusmriti' During Live TV Debate

Sparsh Upadhyay

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