Overview
- Justice Brij Raj Singh of the Lucknow Bench rejected Rathore’s anticipatory bail plea tied to an FIR over her April social media remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Pahalgam killings.
- The court noted that the X posts were primarily directed at the Prime Minister and described his name as used in a disrespectful manner while emphasizing that free speech is subject to statutory limits for public order and decency.
- Citing an earlier Supreme Court direction, the High Court declined to assess the substantive defenses at this stage and said those issues should be taken up when charges are framed.
- State counsel argued Rathore has not cooperated with investigators more than seven months after the FIR, and the bench recorded allegations of multiple cases pending across Uttar Pradesh.
- Rathore told ANI she will approach the Supreme Court for relief and maintained that her statements were misinterpreted, with the Lucknow FIR filed on a complaint by Abhay Pratap Singh at Hazratganj police station.