An FIR was filed in Meghalaya against social media influencer Akash Sagar after a viral video surfaced showing him and two others innocuously chanting ‘religious song ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at a church. The controversy erupted after bigots on social media started demanding action as Akash’s video started doing the rounds on the internet.
The footage depicts Akash chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at the Church of Epiphany in Mawlynnong, East Khasi Hills district, and engaging in actions that religious zealots deemed as disrespectful to the church’s sanctity.
A Shillong-based activist filed a complaint at Laitumkhrah Police Station, alleging that the act was deliberate and premeditated. The complaint accused Akash of intentionally insulting the Christian faith and inciting communal tensions in a region renowned for its religious harmony.
Following the complaint, the Meghalaya Police registered an FIR against Akash and his companions, charging them with trespassing, disrupting public harmony, and disrespecting religious beliefs.
However, Akash dismissed these allegations. In a now-deleted post, he questioned the complaint’s validity, stating, “For saying Jai Shree Ram?” and shared screenshots of news articles about the FIR, labelling his critics as “traitors.” He also referenced a Karnataka High Court ruling in a separate case that dismissed criminal charges against individuals chanting religious slogans in a mosque.
