New Delhi, June 10: A special MP/MLA court in Varanasi has approved a new petition seeking criminal action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. This petition stems from his alleged comments during a discussion in the United States, where he referred to Lord Ram as a fictional character.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Yajuvendra Vikram Singh granted approval for the criminal revision petition filed by lawyer Harishankar Pandey. This decision overturned a previous order by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), which had dismissed the complaint at an early stage, deeming it not worthy of a hearing.
The revision court noted that the magistrate had hastily dismissed the complaint without giving the complainant a chance to present their case. The court directed that the matter be reconsidered in accordance with the law. The special judge clarified that Gandhi’s remarks were made at Brown University in the U.S., not during parliamentary proceedings.
The judge emphasized that the magistrate needed to consider the case with due judicial scrutiny under the Indian Citizen Security Code (BNS). Pandey had challenged the ACJM’s conclusion that action against Gandhi required the approval of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, as Gandhi represents Raebareli in the Lok Sabha and is the leader of the opposition.
In his complaint, Pandey alleged that Gandhi’s comments constituted punishable offenses under Sections 196, 351, and 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He argued that the statement hurt the religious sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma and incited unrest.
The complainant claimed that during a conversation at Brown University on April 21, 2025, Rahul Gandhi described Lord Ram as a mythological and fictional character.
Upon approving the revision petition, the special judge annulled the ACJM’s order and instructed that the complaint be reconsidered in accordance with the law. Previously, on May 27, the ACJM had dismissed the complaint, stating that it was not worthy of a hearing due to the lack of approval from the Lok Sabha Speaker for action against a sitting MP.
Leave a Comment