New Delhi : The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has criticised the registration of a criminal case against a 25-year-old woman accused of making abusive and objectionable remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the party’s recent protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.“If any language used was derogatory in nature, then the person concerned is free to pursue civil and criminal defamation proceedings against the individual concerned. However, the use of the criminal justice machinery against protesters is highly condemnable,” Das said.
“The language may be wrong and objectionable to someone, but that is no reason to invoke the criminal justice machinery against such people. It creates a chilling effect, especially on the younger generation,” he added. The comments came after a Zero FIR was registered against Ruchika Singh over alleged “abusive and objectionable” remarks against the Prime Minister during the CJP’s NEET paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar on July 23. Das also appealed to young protesters to exercise restraint while voicing dissent, urging them to be mindful of the language they use. At the same time, he maintained that criminal prosecution in such cases was disproportionate.
Later on Friday, Das reiterated his position in a post on X, alleging that the case against Singh amounted to misuse of police powers. “The misuse of criminal machinery against Ruchika Singh is unacceptable. Profanity does not attract criminal case… The Police can focus their energy towards them, not a 25-year-old! Harassment of the young must STOP immediately!” he wrote. The FIR was registered on July 29 at the Expressway police station in Gautam Buddh Nagar following a complaint filed by Ghaziabad resident Smriti Singh.
According to the complaint, Singh’s remarks allegedly lowered the dignity of the constitutional office of the Prime Minister and were intended to incite ill-will, spread hatred and disturb public peace. Police booked the accused under Sections 352, 353(1) and 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to intentional insult likely to provoke a breach of peace, statements conducing to public mischief and defamation. A Zero FIR can be registered at any police station regardless of the location where the alleged offence took place, allowing the case to be recorded without waiting for a jurisdictional transfer.
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