MP-MLA court allows plea seeking FIR against Rahul Gandhi over ‘Ram’ remark

Varanasi: A special MP-MLA court here has set aside a chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court order that had dismissed a plea seeking registration of an FIR against Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Lord Ram.The special court, presided over by additional district and sessions judge (MP-MLA) Yajuvendra Vikram Singh, directed the CJM (MP-MLA) to reconsider the petition filed by local advocate Harishankar Pandey and pass an order in accordance with law after examining relevant legal precedents.The CJM court in May 2025 had dismissed the petition as non-maintainable, citing lack of prior sanction from the central government or competent authority, which is required under law.Pandey had sought registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for remarks made in 2025 during an interaction at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, US, where he allegedly referred to Lord Ram as a “mythological and fictional character”. The petitioner said the remarks hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Sanatani Hindus.The plea sought action under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups), 351 (criminal intimidation), 353 (statement conducing to public mischief), and 356 (defamation), apart from summoning Rahul Gandhi.