Allahabad High Court dismisses plea seeking FIR against Rahul Gandhi over ‘fighting Indian state’ remark

The Allahabad High Court on Friday, May 1, dismissed a plea that challenged a Sambhal court order for refusing to direct registration of an FIR against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his controversial “fighting the Indian state” remark.

The petition was filed by Simran Gupta of the Hindu Shakti Dal. It was rejected by the single-judge bench of Justice Vikram D. Chauhan.

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In her plea, Gupta argued that the Congress leader’s statement made in January last year had hurt public sentiments across the country and amounted to a “seditious and anti-national” assertion, IANS reported.

Gandhi allegedly made the remark during the inauguration of the All India Congress Committee’s new headquarters in New Delhi in January 2025.

“We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian State itself,” he said.

Gupta stated in the plea that his remarks were not merely political criticism and rather a deliberate attempt to destabilise the country, adding that it portrayed the Indian state as an adversarial force.

Prior to this, the local court in Sambhal had dismissed the petitioner’s application seeking registration of FIR against Rahul Gandhi. Later on, the matter reached the Allahabad High Court.

Also, a revision plea was filed thereafter that was also dismissed, following which the petitioner moved the High Court.

During the January 2025 event, Gandhi attacked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He claimed that they had captured institutions of the country, while the Congress was fighting to defend the Constitution and the idea of India.

“Do not think we are fighting a fair fight. If you believe this is merely against a political organisation like the BJP or RSS, understand that they have captured almost every institution in our country. We are now up against the Indian state itself,” Gandhi had said.

At that time, the BJP slammed Gandhi for his words and accused him of undermining India’s sovereignty and constitutional framework. Former BJP president JP Nadda earlier said that Gandhi’s statement exposed Congress’ “ugly truth”.

Even an FIR was registered against Gandhi at Pan Bazar Police Station in Assam’s Guwahati over a complaint alleging that his remarks incited disaffection against the State and threatened national unity.