SHIMLA, Nov 13: Himachal Pradesh Police registered an FIR against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut over a social media post targeting the Gandhi family, following a complaint alleging that her remarks were inflammatory and could disturb public peace.
The case was registered on Friday on a complaint lodged by retired Captain Atul Sharma, a Shimla resident. Sharma alleged that a post shared through Ranaut's verified social media account on November 10 contained highly inflammatory insinuations about the deaths of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her sons, Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
The FIR was registered under Sections 196(1)(b), 353(2) and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Superintendent of Police (Shimla) Gaurav Singh confirmed the registration of the case and said an investigation would follow.
Sharma also objected to references to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, who was allegedly described in the post as a mysterious foreign national. He alleged that the post insinuated that Sonia Gandhi had arrived at a cafe abroad before members of the Gandhi family were killed one after another, eventually leaving her at the head of the government.
The complainant said the post went beyond political criticism and could fuel public hostility, disturb communal harmony and threaten public tranquillity. He also alleged that it circulated misleading information capable of causing fear or alarm and promoting enmity between different groups.
In an email complaint sent to the Director General of Police at 7.51 pm on Thursday, Sharma sought the immediate registration of an FIR and a time-bound cyber-forensic investigation into Ranaut's post. Police said the matter was under investigation.
