Indian Court Orders Fresh Hearing on FIR Plea Against Rahul Gandhi Over Remarks on Hindu God Ram
A Special Court in Varanasi on June 10, 2026 overturned a magistrate's decision and ordered reconsideration of a complaint seeking an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly calling Hindu god Ram a "mythological and fictional character" during a 2025 U.S. interaction. The petitioner argues the remarks hurt Hindu religious sentiments and constitute hate speech, citing the Supreme Court's Ram Janmabhoomi judgment recognizing Ram Lalla's existence. The case highlights ongoing tensions between political speech and religious sentiment protections in India.
A Special Court in Varanasi set aside a Magistrate Court order that had declined a plea seeking registration of an FIR against Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi over remarks allegedly made about Hindu god Ram during a 2025 interaction in the United States. Additional District and Sessions Judge Yajuvendra Vikram Singh allowed a revision petition filed by advocate Hari Shankar Pandey and directed the magistrate to reconsider the complaint. The petitioner accused Gandhi of referring to Lord Ram as a "mythological and fictional character," arguing the comment hurt Hindu religious sentiments and amounted to hate speech. The advocate's petition cited the Supreme Court's Ram Janmabhoomi dispute judgment, which recognized the existence of Shri Ram Lalla, and referenced recent Supreme Court oral remarks expressing disapproval of Gandhi's comments against V.D. Savarkar. The magistrate had initially declined the plea in May 2025, but the Special Court's reversal now requires fresh consideration of the complaint.
What's missing
The exact nature and full context of Gandhi's original remarks in the United States are not provided; the specific date of the 2025 U.S. interaction is not mentioned; the legal standards for what constitutes hate speech under Indian law are not detailed; Gandhi's response or statement regarding the allegations is absent.
What different sources said
- The HinduCenter
Fresh hearing ordered on plea seeking FIR against Rahul over remarks on Hindu god Ram
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