Bhojpuri folk singer and activist Neha Singh Rathore presented herself before the Lucknow police on Saturday to officially record her statement. This action is linked to a criminal case filed against her last year concerning social media posts she made about the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
The Case and Police Proceedings
The case was originally registered at the Hazratganj police station in April 2025. It stemmed from a complaint by a local resident, Abhay Pratap Singh. The complainant alleged that Rathore's posts on platform X (formerly Twitter) had the potential to promote sectarian discord and threaten national unity and integrity.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vikas Kumar Jaiswal confirmed the development. He stated that Rathore was summoned to the Hazratganj police station in connection with the year-old case. "She arrived in the evening, her statement was recorded, and she later left," ACP Jaiswal said.
Content of the Controversial Posts
The police action relates to videos and statements Rathore posted in late April 2025, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In that incident, terrorists had targeted and killed 26 people, predominantly tourists, after verifying their religious identities.
In her posts, Rathore questioned the government's response to the tragedy. One of her posts in Hindi translated to: "What has the government done so far in response to the Pahalgam attack? File an FIR against me? If you have the courage, go and bring the heads of the terrorists! The government wants to divert attention from real issues by getting an FIR filed against me... is this so hard to understand?"
In another post, she defended her right to question authorities, writing, "...today BJP's IT cell is calling me a traitor because I ask questions without fear. Is it treason to ask questions to the Prime Minister?" She also highlighted her family's history of military service in her defense.
Legal Framework and Next Steps
Based on the complaint, the Lucknow police booked Neha Rathore under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new penal code. The allegations broadly fall under charges related to statements conducive to public mischief and those threatening national integrity.
The recording of her statement on January 3, 2026, marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between freedom of expression on digital platforms and legal boundaries concerning national security and public harmony. Further legal proceedings will depend on the police investigation's findings following her recorded statement.
