BJP MP Kangana Ranaut booked in Himachal Pradesh over social media posts
The Mandi MP faces charges of defamation and promoting enmity following a complaint regarding her remarks on the Gandhi family.
Shimla police on Friday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against BJP Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut following a complaint regarding her social media posts about the Gandhi family. The case was filed at the Boileauganj police station in Shimla, according to reports by Moneycontrol, Hindustan Times and Times Now.
Shimla Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh confirmed the FIR was lodged under Sections 196, 353, and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These provisions cover promoting enmity between groups, public mischief through false information, and defamation.
The complaint was filed by Shimla resident Atul Sharma, who sought a cyber forensic examination of posts published on November 10 from Ranaut's verified X account. Sharma alleged the posts contained inflammatory insinuations regarding the deaths of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, as well as Sanjay Gandhi.
The complainant alleged that Ranaut described Sonia Gandhi as a "mysterious foreign national" and used the phrase "how convenient" in relation to the deaths and subsequent political developments. The posts also reportedly referenced Maneka Gandhi being expelled from the family residence after Sanjay Gandhi's death.
Sharma contended that the remarks went beyond political criticism and risked inciting public hostility or disturbing social harmony. Senior Himachal Pradesh Congress leaders, including Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan, condemned the remarks as divisive.
Investigators are proceeding with verifying the electronic evidence. Ranaut and her office have not yet issued an official response regarding the registration of the FIR.