Court case against Kharge in Bihar for ‘hurting sentiments of Hindus’

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge. File
| Photo Credit: ANI via AICC

A complaint was filed against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur court on Tuesday (January 28, 2025) accusing him of hurting the sentiments of Hindus through his statement.

Advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha of the Muzaffarpur civil court has filed a case in the Chief Judicial Magistrate court. The hearing will be held on February 3.

Mr. Ojha alleged that Mr. Kharge had played with the sentiments of Sanatani Hindus for political gain. During a rally in Mau, Madhya Pradesh, the Congress chief had said that dipping in the Ganga did not eliminate poverty or provide food to hungry stomachs. In the complaint, Mr. Ojha had sought to file an FIR against Mr. Kharge.

“Mr. Kharge’s statement has hurt religious sentiments of crore of Hindus and Sanatani. I have filed the complaint in the court against him under Sections 352, 302 and 298 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the court has admitted it,” Mr. Ojha said.

Section 352 of the BNS deals with intentionally insulting someone in a way that provokes breach of peace. The punishment for this offence is up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.

Whereas Section 302 deals with the deliberate act of hurting someone’s religious feelings. It states that anyone who intentionally offends someone’s religious sentiments by speaking, making sounds, gestures, or placing objects can be punished. And Section 298 deals with the punishment for defiling or damaging a place of worship or sacred object with the intention of insulting a religion.

Mr. Kharge on Monday (January 27, 2025) claimed that BJP leaders were competing with one another to take a dip at the Sangam for the cameras, and asked if their act would help eradicate poverty in the country.

However, the Congress chief categorically asserted he did not want to hurt anyone’s faith and if anyone was hurt, he apologised for that. He had also said BJP leaders were spending huge money and dipping into the Ganga until they get good coverage on TV channels.