Pro-Iran protests do not promote communal enmity: MP High Court

Bhopal: In a striking development that has ignited debate over free expression and policing, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to two men arrested over an Instagram reel voicing support for Iran amid its escalating tensions with the US, The Indian Express reported.

The accused, Wasim Khan and Yousuf Mehafooz, had been behind bars since March 8 after a case was registered at Raisen’s Kotwali police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The arrest stemmed solely from a short social media video in which they appeared to express solidarity with Iran during a time of conflict. Authorities alleged that the reel carried inflammatory undertones, potentially capable of disturbing communal harmony.

However, in a sharply worded observation, Justice Ramkumar Choubey found that the case rested on fragile ground. The court found that the material presented did not, at first glance, incite enmity between communities based on religion, language, or identity. Instead, it characterised the content as a form of political expression tied to international developments rather than a domestic threat.

The court went further, raising serious concerns over the manner in which the police initiated action. It indicated that the FIR appeared to have been registered without adequate evidence to substantiate the grave accusations, exposing potential overreach in a climate already charged with suspicion and fear.

Despite strong opposition from the State, which insisted that the video contained incriminating elements and hinted at further evidence, the court chose to grant bail. The decision mandates that both men furnish personal bonds of ₹50,000 along with sureties, subject to standard legal conditions.