The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed an FIR against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, filed for allegedly insulting the religious beliefs of Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas’ devotees. The FIR, lodged in relation to a discourse organized in 2016, accused Ram Rahim of associating Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas with liquor and a prostitute. However, upon examination, the court found no evidence of distortion or misrepresentation in the narrative related to Sant Kabir Das.
Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul, in her judgment, stated,
“Upon careful scrutiny, this Court finds no evidence of any distortion or misrepresentation within the incident relating to the life of Sant Kabir Das. The narrative does not seem to insult the religious sentiments or beliefs of any specific group, as it is deeply rooted in historical resources.”
She further added that the stories told by Ram Rahim during his discourse and the various historical texts annexed with the petition were consistent. They described an instance where Sant Kabir Das is seen with a prostitute and carrying colorful bottles, mistaken for alcohol. The stories focus on misunderstanding and eventual redemption, with no evidence of malice or deliberate intent to harm any individual or community.
The court also noted that the only difference between the historical texts and Ram Rahim’s discourse was the use of “local colloquial terms,” which did not imply any disrespect, malice, or intentional affront to the followers of Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas.
Addressing the legal aspects, the court observed,
“To bring a charge under Section 295A of the IPC, it needs to be demonstrated that the insult was intentional, meant solely to insult someone and was driven by a malicious motive. A mild criticism or some expression that does not grossly offend the religious sensibilities of a community, cannot be criminalized.”
The provisions of Section 295A of the IPC are intended to strike a balance between freedom of speech and the protection of religious sentiments.
Considering these observations, the court exercised its inherent powers under Section 482 of the CrPC to prevent the continuation of frivolous or unjustified criminal proceedings. Justice Nehru concluded,
“On a comparison with various books and historical texts, particularly the discourse in question, it is evident that neither is there any mens rea on part of the petitioner nor any distortion or exaggeration of the incident pertaining to Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas, to such an extent, that it could have offended their followers.”
Thus, the court quashed the FIR, affirming the importance of context and intent in cases alleging insult to religious sentiments.
