Supreme Court Quashes FIR Against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi

The Supreme Court has quashed an FIR filed against Congress Rajya Sabha member Imran Pratapgarhi in Gujarat, ruling that no criminal offense was made out. The complaint, which stemmed from a poem shared by Pratapgarhi on Instagram, claimed it incited unrest and disturbed social harmony.

The Court emphasized the importance of respecting freedom of expression, including poetry, and noted that differing views should be protected.

Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Pratapgarhi’s plea, questioning his responsibility as a lawmaker, but the Supreme Court intervened, providing him relief. Pratapgarhi had argued that the poem, promoting love and non-violence, was harmless and sourced from well-known poets Faiz Ahmed Faiz or Habib Jalib.

The Court raised concerns over the FIR’s registration, calling the poem itself harmless and not against any religion or community. This verdict reinforces the protection of free expression while also highlighting the accountability expected from public figures.