Allahabad High Court rejected Neha Singh Rathore’s anticipatory bail plea after her post on the Pahalgam attack, which allegedly targeted the Prime Minister. The court noted that her remarks were provocative, baseless, and capable of creating tension on social media.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court denied the anticipatory bail request from folk singer Neha Singh Rathore , following allegations that she made baseless, anti-religious, and anti-national remarks on social media.
These comments were reportedly directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the BJP, in relation to the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
Justice B R Singh, who presided over the case, stated that Rathore had not complied with the investigation, despite instructions from an earlier bench that rejected her petition to quash the FIR.
The court also pointed out that even the Supreme Court had not provided her with any protection, allowing her only to seek discharge at an appropriate stage.
The FIR against Rathore was lodged at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on April 27, and the investigation is still ongoing.
In opposition to Rathore’s bail plea, government advocate V K Singh argued that the singer had overstepped the constitutional limits of free speech under Article 19 by making derogatory remarks against constitutional figures and issuing statements considered anti-national during a time of heightened tension with Pakistan.
He also noted that her comments garnered considerable support on social media in Pakistan and that her remarks regarding the Bihar elections crossed acceptable boundaries.
The state informed the court that Rathore had not cooperated with the investigation and had failed to respond to questioning despite being issued notices.
The FIR, filed on April 27, 2025, at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow, accused Rathore of offenses under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Sections 196, 197, 302, 152, and 353, as well as Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2008.
During the investigation, Sections 152 and 159 of the BNS were subsequently added.
Investigators referenced several of Rathore’s tweets that criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, alleging that the party was using terror incidents to advocate for war with Pakistan and distract from domestic issues.
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