Overview

• Ajay Rai, Uttar Pradesh Congress President, is under investigation following an FIR registered at Varanasi's Chetganj police station over his May 4 remarks mocking Rafale jets.
• The FIR, based on a complaint by Pradeep Gupta of the Hindu Shakti Vahini, accuses Rai of disturbing public peace and spreading misinformation under Sections 107(1) and 353(2).
• Rai criticized the government’s delay in deploying Rafale jets after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, using a toy plane adorned with lemons and chillies as a symbol of his protest.
• The Bharatiya Janata Party condemned Rai’s comments as an insult to the armed forces, alleging they were influenced by Rahul Gandhi and exploited by Pakistani media for propaganda.
• If convicted, Rai could face up to two years in prison and a fine, as police continue their investigation into the matter.