The police say no offence made out against CM Rekha Gupta over her Hanuman remark. The Rouse Avenue court has recorded no finding on the allegations, and the complainant now has time to respond.
New Delhi: In a status report placed before a Delhi court, the Delhi Police has taken the stand that there is no offence made out against CM Rekha Gupta, and that no cognisable offence arises from her remark comparing Delhi government officials to Lord Hanuman. The complaint before the court seeks registration of an FIR against the Chief Minister [Ram Niwas Sharma v. Rekha Gupta].
On October 15, 2026, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwani Panwar took the report on record. Advocate Sanjeet Kumar, who appears for the complainant, was given time to respond, and arguments are listed for October 29, 2026.
What the status report says
The report was prepared by Sub-Inspector Mukesh Tomer and forwarded by the SHO of Kashmere Gate police station. Its conclusion is that no cognisable offence is made out against the Chief Minister.
A transcript of the speech accompanies the report, along with a certificate under Section 63(4)(c) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, the provision that governs the admissibility of electronic records. The full text of the report is not available, so the reasoning behind the police conclusion is not known at this stage.
The remark complained of
Ram Niwas Sharma, the complainant, wants an FIR over words the Chief Minister allegedly used on September 23, 2025, at the launch of a Delhi Transport Corporation interstate AC bus service from Kashmere Gate ISBT to Baraut in Uttar Pradesh. As the complaint has it, she likened the officials of the Delhi government to Hanuman, who remembers his strength only when his tail is set on fire.
The complainant contends that the remark was made at a public, official programme before officials and members of the public, and that it hurt religious sentiments. Those contentions are yet to be tested.
His plea came with an application under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the provision under which a Magistrate can direct the police to investigate. On October 3, 2026, the court did not decide whether an FIR should be registered. It asked the Station House Officer of Kashmere Gate police station for a status report and fixed October 15 as the next date.
What the court can do with the report
Section 175(3) BNSS differs from its predecessor, Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in that a Magistrate must consider the submissions of the police officer before ordering an investigation, a requirement the Supreme Court has underlined. The status report is therefore the material on which the court will decide whether to direct registration of an FIR, accept the police view, or take another course open to it in law.
No finding either way
The court has neither accepted nor rejected the police position and has expressed no view on the merits. Both the complainant’s contentions and the police conclusion remain open to argument, and nothing in the proceedings so far establishes that any offence was committed. The complainant’s counsel will address the court on the police report on October 29, 2026.
Case Title: Ram Niwas Sharma v. Rekha Gupta
Court: Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi (Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwani Panwar)
Date of Hearing: October 15, 2026
Next Hearing: October 29, 2026
Appearance: Advocate Sanjeet Kumar for the complainant