Police have filed a sedition-related case against folk singer Neha Singh Rathore. Authorities acted after receiving a complaint that accused her of sharing provocative posts on social media that could disrupt national unity, especially after the tragic Pahalgam attack.
Complaint Details
The complaint, lodged by Abhay Pratap Singh, pointed to the horrifying killing of 26 people in Pahalgam last week. Terrorists had reportedly asked victims about their religion before executing them, causing widespread grief and outrage across the country.
Singh alleged that “In this situation, singer and poetess Neha Singh Rathore, using her Twitter (now X) handle @nehafolksinger made some objectionable posts that can adversely affect the national integrity and made repeated efforts to incite one community against another based on religion.” The complaint was registered at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow.
Following the complaint, police booked Neha Singh Rathore under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include promoting enmity between different groups, disturbing public peace, and threatening the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. Additionally, she faces charges under the Information Technology Act, officials confirmed.
Clarification on Sedition Law
Though the newly introduced BNS does not directly use the term “sedition” like the earlier Indian Penal Code’s Section 124A, it addresses similar offenses. Authorities mentioned that Section 152 of the BNS now covers acts that endanger India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.
