FIR lodged against Rahul Gandhi after Amit Kumar, a Scheduled Caste community member, filed a complaint over his Haldwani remarks.
FIR Against Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand Over Remarks on Ramlila Ground ‘Purification Ritual’
Haldwani: An FIR has been registered against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at Haldwani Kotwali police station in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district over his alleged remarks about a “purification ritual” conducted at the local Ramlila Ground.
Haldwani Superintendent of Police (City) Manoj Kumar Katyal confirmed the development on Sunday. He said the case was registered following a complaint submitted by Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar Colony.
“Based on the complaint submitted by Amit Kumar, a Jawahar Nagar Colony resident, an FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi under relevant sections, and a thorough investigation into the matter is currently underway,” Katyal said.
The case has brought a fresh political controversy into focus, with the complainant alleging that Gandhi made serious remarks about the ritual without first verifying the circumstances surrounding it.
Complainant identifies as Scheduled Caste member
Amit Kumar, 26, has identified himself as a member of the Scheduled Caste (Valmiki) community. He is also an office-bearer of the local trust, Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas.
According to the complaint, Gandhi referred to the cleaning and havan ritual held at the Ramlila Ground as an act of “untouchability” and an atrocity against the Scheduled Caste community.
The complainant has alleged that Gandhi made the remarks during a press conference in New Delhi on August 29. He claimed that the Congress leader characterised the incident in a manner that allegedly hurt the sentiments of members of the Scheduled Caste community.
The complaint further alleges that Gandhi made the statements without establishing the facts surrounding the cleaning and religious ritual. The police have now begun an investigation to examine the allegations and determine whether the provisions cited in the FIR are applicable.
Sections invoked against Rahul Gandhi
The FIR has been registered under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 . Police have also invoked Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to promoting enmity between different groups, along with Section 299 of the BNS.
The invocation of these provisions makes the case legally significant, but registration of an FIR does not by itself establish guilt. The allegations will have to be examined through the investigation and subsequent legal process.
The controversy centres on an incident at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground and Gandhi’s subsequent comments about it. The complainant has sought action, arguing that the remarks wrongly portrayed the incident as an atrocity against Dalits.
Police officials have said a detailed investigation is underway. Investigators are expected to examine the complaint, Gandhi’s reported statements and other relevant material before determining the next course of action.
The case is likely to attract considerable political attention, given Gandhi’s position as Leader of Opposition and the sensitive issues of caste, religious practices and alleged untouchability involved in the complaint.
For now, the focus remains on the police investigation and the evidence that emerges regarding the statements and the events at the Ramlila Ground.
The complaint concerns his alleged remarks about a “purification ritual” at Ramlila Ground.
The FIR was registered at Haldwani Kotwali police station .
Complainant Amit Kumar identifies as a Valmiki Scheduled Caste member .
Kumar is an office-bearer of Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas .
The complaint alleges Gandhi described the ritual as “untouchability” and an atrocity.
Police invoked provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act .
Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have also been cited.
Police said a thorough investigation is underway .
Registration of an FIR does not establish guilt , and the allegations remain subject to investigation and due legal process.