Supreme Court Questions Gujarat Government on FIR Against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi
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Synopsis
The Supreme Court has raised concerns regarding an FIR against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi, accused of inciting social unrest through a poem shared online. The matter will be reviewed in three weeks, with the court previously granting him protection from arrest.
Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court is scrutinizing the FIR against Imran Pratapgarhi.
- The Gujarat High Court previously denied his plea to quash the FIR.
- Pratapgarhi claims the poem is non-violent and not inflammatory.
- The court has postponed the hearing for three weeks.
- Lawmakers are urged to act responsibly in social media matters.
New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the validity of an FIR filed against Congress Rajya Sabha MP and poet Imran Pratapgarhi, who is accused of allegedly disrupting social harmony.
The complaint was lodged on January 3, 2025, by a clerk at the Jamnagar police station.
The complainant claimed that a video shared by Pratapgarhi on Instagram, which contained a poem, was provoking unrest and jeopardizing social peace.
“Examine the poem. It is ultimately a poem. It does not target any religion or specific community. Please consider the essence of the poem,” stated a Bench led by Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan while postponing the hearing requested by the counsel for the Gujarat government.
The case is scheduled for a follow-up hearing in three weeks.
Previously, on January 21, the Justice Oka-led Bench temporarily protected Pratapgarhi from arrest, issuing a notice to the Gujarat government and rescheduling the case for February 10.
During this period, the apex court mandated that no coercive actions be initiated against Pratapgarhi based on the disputed FIR.
The Gujarat High Court had dismissed Pratapgarhi's request to invalidate the FIR against him.
In its ruling, the Gujarat HC emphasized that as a lawmaker, Pratapgarhi should conduct himself with responsibility and adhere to legal processes.
It also instructed him to deliver an affidavit explaining the origin of the poem presented in the video.
Pratapgarhi was required to clarify whether he authored the poem or obtained it from other sources, and if so, to provide information regarding its author.
During the Gujarat High Court proceedings, Pratapgarhi asserted that the poem in question was authored by esteemed poets Faiz Ahmed Faiz or Habib Jalib.
He claimed to have discovered the poem through online platforms, including internet forums and chat rooms, yet was unable to pinpoint a specific source.
Pratapgarhi showed screenshots from an AI tool (ChatGPT) to substantiate his assertions.
He contended that the poem, which advocates love and non-violence, was innocuous and did not amount to a criminal offense.
However, the prosecution countered, arguing that as a member of Parliament, Pratapgarhi bore a duty to act prudently and avoid inciting public unrest via social media.
The police had served a notice to Pratapgarhi on January 4, instructing him to appear on January 11, but he did not comply with the investigation.
The Gujarat High Court pointed out that Pratapgarhi's actions could not be justified simply because of his public figure status.
His non-appearance before authorities and the ambiguity surrounding the poem's origin were pivotal in rejecting his petition.
The Gujarat HC ultimately dismissed Pratapgarhi’s request, reiterating that lawmakers must respect the law and act judiciously.
