New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) A Delhi court on Thursday directed the Cyber Police Station to register an FIR against journalist Karishma Aziz over alleged derogatory social media posts concerning Hindu religious figures and historical personalities, as well as alleged content tending to create communal disharmony.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Mridul Gupta of the Patiala House Courts passed the order while allowing an application filed by advocate Amita Sachdeva under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), seeking registration of an FIR and investigation.
The complainant alleged that several posts uploaded from an account on social media platform X contained remarks insulting Hindu religious beliefs and figures, including a Hindu saint, Lord Ram, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and freedom fighter Veer Savarkar.
She also alleged that some social media posts contained derogatory remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promoted ‘anti-India’ sentiments.
According to the complaint, the posts were made between February and April 2025 and included videos and other content which, the complainant alleged, mocked Hindu religious and historical figures and sought to create communal discord.
In its order, the court recorded that the complainant had placed on record screenshots, transcripts and links pertaining to various posts and video uploads allegedly made through the social media account.
“The allegations are not confined to an isolated statement. Rather, the complaint refers to a series of posts published over a period of time which, according to the complainant, contain derogatory remarks against Hindu religious beliefs, revered religious figures, historical personalities associated with the Hindu community and expressions tending to create communal disharmony,” the court said.
The South Saket Cyber Police Station had earlier filed a status report saying that the posts contained obscenity and material directly targeting Hinduism, besides being in the nature of political or historical commentary, criticism and satire.
The police had also said that, after an enquiry, no evidence of a deliberate attempt to incite communal disharmony was found.
However, the court said the issue at the present stage was not to conclusively determine the truthfulness of the allegations or the culpability of the accused.
“Whether the impugned posts ultimately constitute protected political commentary, satire, criticism or historical opinion, or whether they cross the threshold of criminality under the provisions invoked by the complainant, is a matter requiring investigation,” it added.
The court also relied on the Supreme Court’s judgment in Amish Devgan vs Union of India, saying that while freedom of speech is constitutionally protected, expressions intended to promote disharmony or made with deliberate and malicious intent to outrage religious feelings may attract penal consequences, depending on the context.
The court said that investigation was required to collect and preserve electronic evidence, including material relating to the authorship and operation of the social media account, the uploaded videos and posts, their dissemination and other electronic records.
“The Court is satisfied that the complaint discloses commission of cognisable offences requiring investigation. It is made clear that no opinion is being expressed on the merits of the allegations, at this stage,” the order said.
Allowing the application under Section 175(3) of BNSS, the court directed the Cyber Police Station in New Delhi to register an FIR on the basis of the complaint and undertake investigation in accordance with law.
It directed the concerned police station to file a compliance report within one week.
The complainant has sought registration of an FIR for offences under Sections 196, 299 and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
–IANS
pds/khz