BJP MP Kangana Ranaut found herself in the soup over her post targeting Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and her memoir with a police case being filed in Himachal Pradesh.
The case was filed based on a complaint by Atul Sharma, a resident of Shimla, who alleged that her posts contained inflammatory remarks on the deaths of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and the former's other son Sanjay Gandhi.
Confirmed by Shimla Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh, the case was lodged at the Boileauganj police station in Shimla under Sections 196, 353, and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023—provisions covering the promotion of enmity between groups, public mischief through false information, and defamation.
'Mysterious foreigner'
In a post on X, Kangana Ranaut had questioned Sonia Gandhi's entry into Indian politics and called her "mysterious foreigner".
Ranaut was reacting to an old video that went viral on social media after Gandhi's memoir "Belonging: A Journey Of Love" hit the stores on November 10. The video footage showed a family dinner attended by Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi and a young Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi as well.
Her post allegedly linked the tragic deaths of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, along with Sanjay Gandhi, to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s subsequent political rise.
In his submission, Sharma noted that the post characterised Sonia Gandhi as a “mysterious foreign national" who entered the family before relatives were killed one after another, concluding with the remark, “How convenient". The message also referenced the alleged expulsion of Maneka Gandhi from the family residence following Sanjay Gandhi’s death.
Sharma contended that such insinuations cross the boundary of legitimate political criticism and risk inciting public hostility and disturbing social harmony.
Congress condemns remarks
Senior Himachal Pradesh Congress leaders, including Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan, strongly condemned the Mandi MP’s remarks as irresponsible and divisive.
Ranaut and her office have yet to issue an official response regarding the registration of the FIR as investigators proceed with verifying the electronic evidence.
