Bengaluru Police have registered a Zero FIR against Uttarakhand BJP leaders and other party membersover an alleged “shuddhikaran” or purification ritual reportedly conducted at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there on August 8.

The case was registered at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station following a complaint by Congress leader T R Ramappa, who alleged that the ritual carried caste-related implications because Kharge belongs to a Scheduled Caste community. The complaint names Uttarakhand BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt and others. Police said the FIR will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities in Uttarakhand for further investigation. 

Complaint Filed Over Alleged Purification Ritual

According to the complaint, a ritual was carried out at the Haldwani venue after Kharge's public meeting. Ramappa alleged that the act conveyed the message that the venue had become “impure” following the Congress leader's presence.

The allegation has triggered a political dispute between the Congress and BJP. The FIR itself records the allegations made in the complaint; it does not establish that the accused individuals committed the offences alleged.

The incident has also raised wider questions about caste discrimination and the use of religious or ritual symbolism in political disputes.

Zero FIR Registered in Bengaluru

The complaint was submitted at Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha Police Station on August 31. Police sought a legal opinion before registering the case, according to officials quoted in reports.

A Zero FIR allows a police station to register a case even when the alleged offence occurred outside its territorial jurisdiction. The case can subsequently be transferred to the police station or investigating authority with jurisdiction over the alleged incident.

In this case, Bengaluru Police are forwarding the matter to authorities in Uttarakhand, where the alleged ritual took place. 

BJP Leaders Named in Complaint

The complaint names Uttarakhand BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt along with other party members. Ramappa has alleged that BJP functionaries either participated in or publicly defended the ritual.

The complaint invokes provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, according to reports. 

The exact applicability of the provisions will be determined during the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.

Kharge Had Raised the Issue

The Bengaluru FIR comes amid an escalating political dispute over the alleged incident.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Rajya Sabha Leader of the House J P Nadda, seeking action over what he described as the failure to register a case concerning the alleged purification ritual. Kharge's intervention came after he said several days had passed without the action he expected following assurances given in Parliament. 

The issue has subsequently moved beyond Uttarakhand politics, with Congress leaders demanding accountability and the matter now being formally recorded through a police complaint in Karnataka.

Political Row Intensifies

The controversy has acquired significance because of the identities involved and the interpretation being placed on the alleged ritual.

Congress leaders have described the act as discriminatory and have linked it to caste-based prejudice. The BJP and its leaders have faced criticism over the alleged incident, while the legal investigation will now have to establish what exactly occurred at the Haldwani venue, who organised or participated in it and whether any offence was committed.

Separately, the controversy has already prompted further political exchanges between the two parties.

Investigation to Move to Uttarakhand

With the Zero FIR registered, the next stage is expected to involve the transfer of the case to Uttarakhand authorities. Investigators will have to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged ritual, statements from witnesses and any available video or other evidence.

The registration of an FIR should not be treated as a finding of guilt. Any criminal liability will depend on evidence collected during the investigation and the outcome of the judicial process.

For now, the case adds another layer to the growing political confrontation over the alleged “shuddhikaran” at Haldwani's Ramlila Ground, with both the Congress and BJP facing renewed pressure to explain their positions on an incident that has become a wider debate over caste, political conduct and public spaces.

New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief spokesperson Saurav Das on Friday questioned the criminal case registered against a 25-year-old woman who allegedly used abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Das described the FIR as a misuse of the criminal justice system and argued that while abusive or offensive language could be condemned, it should not automatically lead to criminal proceedings. The woman was allegedly seen making objectionable remarks against the Prime Minister during the July 23 Jantar Mantar protest, and a video of the incident later circulated widely on social media. According to the police, she was booked on allegations including intentional insult, public mischief and defamation after a complaint was lodged at the Expressway police station in Noida. Police registered a "zero FIR" before transferring the case to Parliament Street police station in New Delhi, where the alleged incident took place. A zero FIR allows a complaint to be registered at a police station irrespective of where the alleged offence occurred, after which it can be transferred to the police station having jurisdiction.

Reacting to the case, Das said profanity by itself should not result in a criminal case and accused authorities of unnecessarily targeting young protesters. In a post on X, he questioned why police resources were being used against a 25-year-old woman and referred to criminal cases involving members of Parliament while making his argument. Speaking separately to news agency ANI, Das asked when using abusive language had become a criminal offence in the country. He said such language was used in everyday life and maintained that deploying the criminal justice machinery against protesters in this manner was unjustifiable. Das nevertheless described the alleged remarks as condemnable, while appealing to the government and police to stop what he called harassment of young people. His comments came amid continuing political debate surrounding the recent CJP-led protests at Jantar Mantar and the police response to demonstrations over examination-related issues.

The complaint in the case was filed by Ghaziabad resident Smriti Singh, who approached Noida Police on Wednesday. According to the complaint cited in the FIR, the woman allegedly used abusive and objectionable language in public against the Prime Minister. Singh alleged that the remarks affected the dignity of a constitutional office and were intended to spread hatred and disturb public peace. She also claimed that several videos circulating on social media showed the woman making abusive remarks about Modi and his mother. Singh said she identified the woman with the help of her friends through social media before approaching police and seeking action. The case has now been sent to Parliament Street police station for further investigation. Das, meanwhile, has maintained that offensive speech should be criticised without using criminal proceedings to target young protesters. The police investigation will determine how the allegations and provisions cited in the FIR are taken forward.

A 23-year-old woman from Gwalior has alleged that a man she had befriended after he helped her family during a roadside emergency attempted to sexually assault her after luring her away from a wedding ceremony in Dabra. The accused allegedly took her to a secluded canal-side road, where he tried to rape her before fleeing when a passing vehicle approached the spot.

The incident reportedly occurred three days ago. Police have registered a zero FIR at the Gwalior Women's Police Station and transferred the case diary to Dabra Dehat Police Station, as the alleged crime took place within its jurisdiction. Further investigation is underway.

Friendship Built on Trust

According to the complaint, the survivor lost her father three years ago and lives with her mother in Gwalior's Murar area. Around three weeks ago, she had travelled with family members to Goleshwar Temple in Karahiya for darshan.

During the return journey, the family's vehicle reportedly broke down on a deserted road. A passer-by provided the contact number of Santosh Kushwaha, a resident of Karahiya, who arrived with his four-wheeler and helped the family reach Chandravadani Naka in Gwalior safely.

Following the incident, the woman and the accused remained in contact, with the complainant stating that she trusted him as a genuine friend who had helped her family in difficult circumstances.

Called Out During Wedding Function

Police said the woman had travelled to Dabra on Saturday to attend a neighbour's family wedding. During the function, she allegedly received a phone call from Santosh Kushwaha, who insisted on meeting her, claiming that he was also present in Dabra.

Trusting him, she stepped outside the marriage garden around 8:30 pm, where the accused was waiting on a motorcycle. He then allegedly persuaded her to accompany him before taking her to an isolated stretch near a canal on the outskirts of the town.

Alleged Assault on Secluded Road

According to the complaint, after reaching the deserted location, the accused stopped the motorcycle and allegedly attempted to sexually assault the woman. She alleged that he tried to force himself on her, attempted to tear her clothes, and behaved in an obscene manner despite her resistance.

The complainant said she screamed for help and continued resisting throughout the alleged assault.

Passing Vehicle Interrupts Incident

The alleged attack was interrupted when a four-wheeler passed through the otherwise deserted road. The headlights of the approaching vehicle illuminated the area, causing the accused to panic and flee the scene before he could allegedly carry out the assault.

The woman managed to escape and returned to Gwalior, where she later informed her family about the incident before approaching the Women's Police Station to lodge a complaint.

Case Transferred for Investigation

Since the alleged offence occurred in Dabra, the Women's Police Station registered a zero FIR before transferring the case to Dabra Dehat Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Police have begun investigating the allegations and are expected to record witness statements and gather evidence from the scene. Authorities have not disclosed whether the accused has been taken into custody.

The investigation is continuing.