Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi, who attended a ‘mass marriage’ in Jamnagar, and following that, posted on X (formerly Twitter) a controversial poem, has landed in trouble. The Gujarat High Court has rejected his petition seeking quashing of the FIR filed against him in Jamnagar. This FIR was filed after Pratapgarhi posted a video from his X handle with a provocative song with lyrics like ‘Us Rab ki kasam hanste hanste, itni lashe dafna denge’ (Swear to God we will bury so many dead bodies with a smile on our face).
An appeal was filed was filed in the Gujarat High Court by the Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi demanding quashing of this FIR. The petition described this provocative poem as giving a message of ‘love and non-violence’, and said that Pratapgarhi had no intention of inciting communal sentiments. However, the High Court did not accept these arguments.
The court said, “Looking at the tone of the poem, it is clear that it talks about ‘throne’ or ‘power’. Moreover, the reactions to the post also make it clear that the message was conveyed in a way that would harm communal harmony.”
More responsible behavior is expected from MPs: High Court
Justice Sandeep Bhatt said in the order, “The behavior of the citizens of the country should be such that it does not disturb social harmony. The petitioner is an MP and therefore there is an expectation that he will behave with more restraint. Moreover, as an MP, it is natural that he would know better what the consequences of such a post can be.”
The court has asked Imran Pratapgarhi to cooperate in the investigation and has refused to grant any relief. It also said, “If further discussion on the merits of the case is done at this stage, it will be considered as prejudice to the rights of both the parties. But after reading the FIR and looking at the sections that have been imposed in the case, an investigation is required at this stage.”
Co-operate in the investigation, you are an MP: High Court
Apart from this, the court also took cognizance of the arguments of the public prosecutor, in which it was stated that Imran Pratapgarhi has not appeared despite repeated notices issued by the police to appear for questioning. Regarding which, the High Court said that the petitioner is an MP and as a person participating in the law-making process, it is expected from him to provide full cooperation in the investigation and to fully respect the law.
The court held that, “There does not appear to be sufficient reason to exempt him under Section 528 or 226 of the Indian Civil Security Code-2023, hence this petition is dismissed.”
What was the entire issue
A mass marriage program was organized for young men and women of the Muslim community in Jamnagar on January 3, 2025. After participating in this program, Pratapgarhi posted a video of it on social media, in which the background music used was provocative, and Jamnagar A Division Police registered a case and started further action.
जामनगर गुजरात के एक सामूहिक विवाह कार्यक्रम में शिरकत। pic.twitter.com/7MKIjEVK9f
— Imran Pratapgarhi (@ShayarImran) January 2, 2025
According to the FIR available with OpIndia, the accused include Imran Pratapgarhi, Altaf Khafi, and Sanjari Education and Charitable Trust. Action is being taken against all of them under sections 196, 197(1), 302, 299, 57, 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code. The mass marriage was planned on the birthday of Altaf Khafi, a corporator of ward number 12 of Jamnagar Municipality.
Described as a poem of peace and non-violence, the poem talks about burying dead bodies
In the petition filed by the Congress MP, it said that the poem is one of peace and non-violence, while the lyrics of the poem shared in the video say ‘Us Rab ki kasam hanste hanste, itni lashe dafna denge’ (Swear to God we will bury so many dead bodies with a smile on our face). Now, taking these provocative words into consideration, the Gujarat High Court has rejected the petition filed by Imran Pratapgarhi.