FIR against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut over social media posts on Gandhi family

The case was registered on Friday, November 13, on the basis of a complaint lodged by retired Captain Atul Sharma, a resident of Shimla.

In Short

• Complaint filed by retired Captain Atul Sharma alleging inflammatory remarks
• Posts targeted Gandhi family and Sonia Gandhi with controversial claims
• FIR filed under Sections 196(1)(b), 353(2) and 356(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

The Himachal Pradesh Police has registered an FIR against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut in Shimla over her 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, November 13, on the basis of a complaint lodged by retired Captain Atul Sharma, a resident of Shimla.

He has alleged that Ranaut's post, shared through her 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 has been filed under Sections 196(1)(b), 353(2) and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Superintendent of Police (Shimla) Gaurav Singh confirmed the registration of the case, saying an investigation would follow.

The complainant also took objection to references to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, who was allegedly described in the post as a "mysterious foreign national."

Sharma claimed that the post insinuated that Sonia 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,' accompanied by the remark, "How convenient."

The post also referred to Maneka Gandhi's departure from the family residence following Sanjay Gandhi's death.

Sharma argued that the narrative went beyond political criticism and could fuel public hostility, disturb communal harmony and threaten public tranquillity.

He further alleged that the post amounted to circulating misleading information capable of causing fear or alarm and promoting enmity between different groups.

In his complaint addressed to the Director General of Police, sent by email 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 being investigated.

Ranaut's remarks came as an archival home video from around 1981 resurfaced on social media.

The footage shows a family dinner attended by Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi and young Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.

The social media post came on the very same day when Sonia Gandhi's memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, was released.

- Ends
(With additional inputs from Vikas Sharma and PTI)