The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has delivered a significant ruling, rejecting the anticipatory bail application of popular Youtuber and folk singer Neha Singh Rathore. The case stems from allegations that she made inflammatory and baseless statements on social media targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the aftermath of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack.
Court Cites Non-Cooperation in Investigation
Pronouncing the order on Friday, the bench of Justice BR Singh observed that Rathore was not cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The court noted that an earlier bench had already dismissed her plea to quash the First Information Report (FIR) filed against her and had directed her to cooperate with the probe, an order she allegedly failed to follow.
The bench also highlighted that even the Supreme Court had declined to grant her relief on the quashing plea. The apex court had only permitted her to seek discharge at an appropriate stage of the legal proceedings, leaving the FIR intact.
Background of the Case and Government's Stance
The legal troubles for Neha Singh Rathore began when an FIR was registered against her at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on April 27, 2025. The police action followed her social media posts concerning the devastating Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025, where armed terrorists killed 26 tourists after questioning them about their religion.
Opposing her bail plea in the High Court, government advocate VK Singh presented a strong case. He argued that Rathore had violated constitutional limits of free speech under Article 19. The advocate contended that her remarks were not merely derogatory against national leaders and the ruling party but were also anti-national in nature, made at a time when tensions with Pakistan were exceptionally high.
A particularly serious allegation put forth was that Rathore's statements had garnered considerable praise on social media platforms within Pakistan. The government counsel also submitted that her comments regarding the Bihar elections had crossed the boundaries of acceptable freedom of expression.
Legal Proceedings and Future Course
The court was informed that despite being served official notices, Neha Singh Rathore had not made herself available for interrogation, hindering the investigation. This lack of cooperation played a pivotal role in the court's decision to deny her pre-arrest bail.
With the anticipatory bail plea rejected, the path is now clear for the Lucknow Police to proceed with their investigation as per the law. The case underscores the ongoing legal debate surrounding free speech, its reasonable restrictions, and the consequences of statements made on digital platforms, especially in sensitive geopolitical contexts.
