Sedition case filed against folk singer Neha Singh Rathore

LUCKNOW: A case has been registered against folk singer Neha Singh Rathore at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on Sunday, under serious charges, including sedition. The FIR has been filed under several Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The case relates to comments made by Neha Singh Rathore regarding the recent Pahalgam terror attack. In her X post, dated April 23, Rathore had alleged that the Modi-led government was running politics on the grounds of caste and religion. She even alleged the BJP government of “collecting votes in the name of Pulwama attack” and said that “the same will be repeated in case of Pahalgam attack”.

With the divine blessings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, I have formally lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime South Division, Delhi, against Ms. Neha Singh Rathore (@nehafolksinger) for her suspected role in propagating anti-Bharat sentiments.
Her post concerning the Pahalgam… pic.twitter.com/hqSQesf0oz

— Amita Sachdeva, Advocate (@SachdevaAmita) April 27, 2025

The Pahalgam terror attack, which took place on April 22, claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepali national. The complaint claims that her posts could spread caste-based hatred and anti-national sentiments.

राष्ट्रवाद के नाम पर बनी सरकारों से आतंकी हमलों पर सवाल क्यों नहीं पूछा जाना चाहिये?

क्या छप्पन इंच की छाती और लाल आँखों वाले प्रधानमंत्री सवालों से परे हैं?#PahalgamTerroristAttack #Pahalgam #pahalgamattack #पहलगाम_आतंकी_हमला pic.twitter.com/LYI9dgVxK5

— Neha Singh Rathore (@nehafolksinger) April 23, 2025

The complaint was filed by poet Abhay Pratap Singh, also known as Abhay Singh, at Hazratganj police station. He accused Neha of repeatedly posting content that could disrupt communal peace and negatively influence public opinion against the nation.

According to the FIR, registered on April 27, the following sections have been invoked against her: Sections 196(1)(a), 196(1)(b), 197(1)(a), 197(1)(b), 197(1)(c), 197(1)(d), 353(1)(c), 353(2), 302, and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 69A of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008.

The police have launched an investigation into the matter, and further legal proceedings are under way. (ANI)