SHIMLA, Nov 13: Himachal Pradesh Police on Friday registered a case against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut over her social media posts concerning the Gandhi family, following a complaint alleging that her remarks contained inflammatory insinuations about the deaths of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and her sons, Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
Shimla Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh confirmed that an FIR had been lodged based on a complaint submitted by Shimla resident Captain Atul Sharma. He said further investigation would be conducted into the matter.
The case has been registered under Sections 196, 353 and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In his complaint, Sharma alleged that Ranaut had published a series of controversial statements through her verified social media account on November 10. According to him, the posts made insinuations surrounding the deaths of three members of the Gandhi family and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding those incidents.
The complainant also objected to remarks concerning Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, alleging that the posts portrayed her as a “mysterious foreign national” and suggested that she was abroad when successive members of the Gandhi family died.
One of the statements reportedly ended with the remark, “How convenient”, which Sharma described as particularly objectionable.
The complaint further referred to claims concerning Maneka Gandhi’s alleged removal from the family residence following the death of Sanjay Gandhi.
Sharma argued that such statements went beyond political criticism and had the potential to provoke public hostility, create social tensions and undermine communal harmony.
Seeking police intervention, he wrote to the Director General of Police through email, requesting immediate registration of an FIR and a comprehensive cyber-forensic examination of the posts. The complaint was submitted at 7:51 pm on Thursday, according to the document.
The complainant maintained that the social media content could amount to public mischief through the circulation of allegedly misleading information intended to create fear or alarm among sections of society.
He further alleged that the remarks had the potential to promote enmity between different groups, adversely affect public tranquillity and contain assertions prejudicial to national integration.
Sharma called for a thorough and time-bound investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the publication of the posts and determine whether they violated the provisions of law.
Police have initiated the investigation following the registration of the case. Further details are awaited.