Ajmer BJP city president Ramesh Soni faces FIR over post targeting Delhi CM
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A court in Ajmer has ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) City President Ramesh Soni for allegedly reposting and sharing an objectionable social media post targeting the Delhi Chief Minister. The order was issued by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (No. 2), directing the Ganj Police Station to register the case.
How the Case Unfolded
The matter originated from a complaint filed by Shreyans Surana, a resident of Foy Sagar Road, Ajmer. Through his counsel, Advocate Vaibhav Jain, the complainant alleged that the objectionable post was originally uploaded from the Facebook account of his brother, Piyush Surana. Ramesh Soni allegedly reposted and shared the same content from his own Facebook account, amplifying its reach.
According to the complainant, the Ganj Police had earlier registered a case against Piyush Surana and sent him to judicial custody for a day. However, no action was allegedly taken against Soni despite his reposting of the same material. The complaint further alleged that police attempted to suppress the matter owing to Soni's influential position within the party.
Legal Provisions Invoked
The complainant sought directions for registration of an FIR under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Advocate Vaibhav Jain argued before the court that reposting and sharing obscene material constitutes an independent offence under Section 67 of the IT Act.
Citing the Supreme Court judgment in Lalita Kumari versus Government of Uttar Pradesh, the advocate contended that registration of an FIR is mandatory whenever a cognisable offence is disclosed. He also submitted that examination of electronic evidence — including URL links, IP logs, and related digital devices — could only be carried out through a formal police investigation.
Court's Direction
After examining the complaint, the police report, and arguments from both sides, the magistrate referred the matter to Ganj Police Station and directed the police to register a case against Ramesh Soni. This comes amid a broader pattern of courts stepping in to ensure FIR registration where police inaction is alleged, particularly in cases involving politically connected individuals.
What Happens Next
With the court's order now in place, the Ganj Police are bound to register the FIR and initiate a formal investigation, including examination of digital evidence. The case is likely to draw attention to the accountability of public figures for social media activity, and whether resharing objectionable content carries the same legal weight as the original post.