Neha arrived at the police station along with her husband in response to a notice issued earlier this week. She remained at the station for nearly three and a half hours before being asked to leave. Speaking to reporters while returning home, Neha said police informed her that a woman’s statement could not be recorded at night, adding that she would comply whenever she is formally called again.
Police officials denied reports suggesting she was taken into custody and clarified that the procedure was deferred due to timing constraints. An officer at Hazratganj police station said a fresh notice would be issued for recording her statement at an appropriate time.
The controversy stems from social media posts and a song shared by Neha Singh Rathore following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam. In one post, she referred to a “chowkidar” as a coward, which drew sharp criticism. On May 12, her song titled “Chowkidarwa Kayar Ba… Betiyaan Kisanan Khatir Banal General Dyer Ba” triggered outrage, with allegations that it indirectly compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to General Dyer.
Following the posts, multiple FIRs were registered against Rathore in Lucknow and Varanasi. Police said that on May 20, Hindu organizations and BJP workers submitted more than 500 complaints across 15 police stations in three zones of the Varanasi Commissionerate. The Lanka police station alone received 318 complaints.
An FIR was also filed at Hazratganj Kotwali by Abhay Pratap Singh, who accused Rathore of making posts that allegedly promoted hatred between two communities and threatened national integrity. The complainant claimed that Rathore’s content was circulated widely in Pakistan and used by foreign media to criticize India, thereby harming the country’s image.
Responding to the cases, Neha Singh Rathore has maintained that she is merely questioning the government’s response to the terror attack. In a video posted on social media platform X after the FIR, she said she would not be intimidated by multiple complaints and questioned the government’s actions against the perpetrators of the attack.
Police said investigations are ongoing and further legal action will be taken based on evidence and her recorded statement.
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