Supreme Court Clears MP Imran Pratapgarhi's Poem of Inciting Hatred Accusations

The Supreme Court exonerated Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi, ruling that his poem neither incited hatred nor affected national unity. Initially, he faced charges for allegedly inciting disharmony through a video. The court found no connection of the poem with religion or any inimical influence on public tranquility.

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi, stating that his poem does not incite disharmony or promote hatred. The decision comes after Pratapgarhi faced charges in Gujarat's Jamnagar for allegedly posting an edited video featuring a provocative song.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan concluded that the poem does not pertain to any religious or social groups and cannot be reasonably interpreted as disturbing public peace or national unity. They also noted the absence of allegations regarding the poem's recital in religious or assembly spaces.

The court clarified that Sections 196 and 197 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were not applicable, as Pratapgarhi's video merely depicted a mass marriage event backdrop without inciting any religious sentiments. The Congress MP's challenge to the Gujarat High Court's refusal to quash the FIR was therefore upheld by the Supreme Court.

(With inputs from agencies.)