Indian Police File Cases Against Lawyer, Journalists Over Social Media Posts on Allahabad High Court Hearing

Indian Police File Cases Against Lawyer, Journalists Over Social Media Posts on Allahabad High Court Hearing
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Shamli Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on September 16 against six individuals under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alleging that they circulated “misleading and factless” posts on social media regarding the Allahabad High Court proceedings in the case of 31-year-old Ayush Malik.

Those named in the FIR include advocate Syed Kaif Hasan, journalists Karishma Aziz, Nikhat Ali and Wasim Akram Tyagi, along with social media users associated with accounts including “The Muslim Sphere” and Nadeem Saifi.

The police allege that the posts incorrectly claimed the High Court had reprimanded Shamli Police during the hearing. Authorities said the claims distorted the court proceedings and could affect public order.

The case relates to Ayush Malik, who was produced before the Allahabad High Court after a petition sought his appearance and the recording of his statement. During the hearing, Malik told the court that he had voluntarily embraced Islam and wanted to live independently. The court subsequently allowed him to go wherever he wished.

Police have denied that the court reprimanded them during the proceedings, while some of those who posted about the hearing argue that they were referring to oral observations made in court before the written order was issued.