Journalist Rana Ayyub faces fresh legal trouble as a Delhi court has ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against her. She is accused of ‘insulting’ Hindu deities and ‘promoting’ anti-India sentiment through her social media posts. The complaint, based on posts from 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2022, was filed by advocate Amita Sachdeva.
The order was issued on January 25 by Chief Judicial Magistrate Himanshu Raman Singh of the Saket Court.
FIR details
The FIR states that the complainant has accused Rana Ayyub of exploiting her platform to disrespect revered Hindu deities, undermine Indian unity, and provoke hostility toward India, including making derogatory remarks about the Indian Army. The FIR also mentioned that the case was filed following instructions from the Chief Judicial Magistrate Himanshu Raman Singh of the Delhi Sessions Court (Saket, South District).
What the complainant said?
In her complaint, Advocate Sachdeva stated that Rana Ayyub had posted multiple derogatory messages on X (formerly Twitter) between 2013 and 2017. These posts, which insulted respected Hindu deities, spread anti-India views, and incited religious discord, were argued to be provocative in nature. She contended that Ayyub’s prominent public presence amplified the impact of these posts, which appeared to be designed to disrupt communal harmony.
Advocate Sachdeva presented multiple examples of Ayyub's posts to emphasize her ongoing misleading statements and anti-Hindu rhetoric. One such example was a post in which Ayyub criticized Veer Savarkar and Hindutva, stating, “So Veer Savarkar advocated rape as a necessary component of Hindutva nationalism.” Advocate Sachdeva strongly dismissed the post as unfounded and provocative, emphasizing that it aimed to tarnish the reputation of a respected historical figure and undermine the Hindutva ideology, which is fundamental to millions of Hindus.
In a 2013 post, Ayyub ridiculed Bhagwan Ram and wrote, “Ravana didn’t touch Sita even though he could. Ram didn’t stand for Sita even though he should have. Ravana 1 Ram 0.” Advocate Sachdeva stated that this post belittled Bhagwan Ram, praised Ravana, and disrespected the fundamental beliefs of Hindus.
In a separate 2014 post, Ayyub, as stated by Advocate Sachdeva, downplayed the suffering of respected figures such as Mata Sita and Draupadi, wrote, “Gareeb Sita ke ghar pe kab tak rahegi Ravan ki hukmrani, Draupadi ka libas uske badan se kab tak chhina karega.” The complainant contended that this statement went beyond all limits of decency and ridiculed the sacredness of Hindu traditions.
Rana Ayyub also shared posts that criticized the Indian Army. In 2016, she wrote, “Dear Indian Army, am guessing this young kid was quite a threat to the sovereignty of India to be blinded for life.” The complainant stated that this post was a reckless and defamatory remark intended to erode public confidence in the Indian Armed Forces.
Advocate Sachdeva highlighted that although a complaint was submitted to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on November 11, 2024, and she had consistently followed up with the Cyber Police Station in South Delhi, no action had been taken. The lack of police response, combined with the seriousness of the offenses, led her to seek the court's intervention.
What was the Delhi Court's statement?
Chief Judicial Magistrate Singh observed that the complaint filed by Amita Sachdeva revealed the commission of cognizable offences under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC):
Section 153A: Penalty for fostering hostility between various groups.
Section 295A: Intentional and harmful actions aimed at offending religious sentiments.
Section 505: Statements that lead to public disorder.
The Delhi court observed that the seriousness of the allegations called for a police investigation. It directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Cyber Police Station in South Delhi to register the complaint against Rana Ayyub as an FIR.
Who is Rana Ayyub?
Rana Ayyub is a renowned journalist and columnist at The Washington Post, recognized for her investigative reporting, especially her coverage of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Her bio on The Washington Post highlights her role as the author of Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover Up. Ayyub was formerly an editor at Tehelka, a prominent investigative magazine in India. She covers topics such as religious violence, extrajudicial killings by the state, and insurgency.
Ayyub has faced considerable backlash and threats from right-wing groups in India, with the intensity of these attacks escalating in recent years, reflecting broader concerns about press freedom in the country.
Comentarios