Agra woman held after 3-year-old video of ‘burning Manusmriti’ goes viral

Agra police on Tuesday arrested a 22-year-old woman after a video allegedly showing her burning the Manusmriti went viral on social media on December 26.

The woman, identified as Priyanka Varun, a resident of Agra, told the police that the video was nearly three years old and had been recirculated recently online, officers said on Thursday. She also claimed to be the national president of the Bharatiya Mahila Suraksha Sangh, an NGO working for women and children with autism.

B.P. Giri, station house officer of Shahganj police station, said Varun was arrested on December 30 in connection with offences related to breach of peace. He said she was produced before a magistrate on the same day and was subsequently granted bail.

Police registered an FIR against her under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant. Additionally, Section 67 of the Information Technology Act has also been invoked, Indian Express reported.

The SHO said that even though the woman claimed the video was recorded three years ago, the police became aware of the matter only after it began circulating widely on X in recent days.

According to the complainant, Sub-Inspector D.M. Pandey, the police took suo motu cognisance of the incident and initiated legal action as the video had the potential to disrupt public order and social harmony. He said several people had protested against the clip, alleging that it hurt their religious sentiments, prompting the authorities to intervene.