The Gujarat Police came under flak from the Supreme Court on Monday for filing an FIR against Congress member and Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi over a poem he had written and posted on Instagram.
The charges, including promoting enmity between different religions and harming national integration, have been inflicted on him, with the court urging the police to apply their minds to understand the meaning.
The poem, titled Ae Khoon Ke Pyaase Meri Baat Suno (“Oh Bloodthirsty, Listen to Me”), is a reflection of Pratapgarhi's protest poetry, which often highlights the Muslim experience and identity in India and beyond.
Pratapgarhi had been booked by the Jamnagar Police on January 3 on charges of promoting enmity between different groups based on religion and race, making statements harmful to national integration, and insulting religious groups. The charges stemmed from his poem, which, along with a video, went viral on social media. The police action led Pratapgarhi to file a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the Gujarat High Court’s decision to refuse the quashing of the FIR.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, during the hearing, expressed concern that the police had failed to properly comprehend the poem’s message. The court remarked that the poem conveyed a message of non-violence, even in the face of violence, rather than targeting any specific community.
In light of these observations, the bench adjourned the case for three weeks at the state government’s request and urged the authorities to reconsider the poem’s content in its proper context. The Supreme Court had previously granted interim relief to Pratapgarhi, staying all actions related to the FIR.
Earlier, on January 17, the Gujarat High Court had declined to quash the FIR, citing the need for further investigation and alleging non-cooperation by Pratapgarhi. The court had also noted that the poem could potentially disturb social harmony, especially given Pratapgarhi's position as a Member of Parliament.