A woman has been booked for allegedly using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar.
The case has triggered a political reaction, with Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das speaking up in her defence and calling the FIR a misuse of the criminal justice system.
What happened at Jantar Mantar
During a protest on July 23, a video went viral showing a woman allegedly using abusive language against PM Modi. Based on this video, she was booked under charges of intentional insult, public mischief and defamation.
Also Read | The unseen heroes behind the Cockroach Janta Party protest
The case was registered after a Ghaziabad resident approached the Expressway police station in Noida.
Saurav Das defends the woman
Reacting to the FIR, Das said that while using abusive language is not something to be encouraged, it should not be treated as a crime.
Writing on X, he said, “Profanity does not attract criminal case. 50% of Lok Sabha MPs have criminal cases against them, close to 100 MPs in the BJP. The Police can focus their energy towards them, not a 25 year old! Harassment of the young must STOP immediately!”
The misuse of criminal machinery against Ruchika Singh is unacceptable. Profanity does not attract criminal case. 50% of Lok Sabha MPs have criminal cases against them, close to 100 MPs in the BJP. The Police can focus their energy towards them, not a 25-year old! Harassment of…
— Saurav Das (@SauravDassss) July 31, 2026
He further said that using police machinery to target protesters was completely wrong, stating that “using the criminal justice machinery to target and harass” protesters “through the police is absolutely unjustifiable.”
Speaking to news agency ANI, Das questioned why abusive language was suddenly being treated as a criminal act.
He said, “Since when has using abusive language become a criminal offense in this country? People use such language in everyday life all the time.”
He added, “This is utterly condemnable. I once again appeal to the government and its police machinery to stop harassing the youth. Stop targeting young people in this way, and leave this girl alone. Such misuse of the police force in these kinds of cases is completely unacceptable…”
Also Read | Cauvery row: Questions raised over Karnataka’s legal strategy after CWMA order
How the FIR was filed
#WATCH | Delhi: On FIR against Noida girl for using abusive language against PM Narendra Modi during protest at Jantar Mantar, Cockroach Janta Party Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das says, "One might condemn the use of abusive language during a protest. However, using the criminal… pic.twitter.com/BkOdx0flQb
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2026
Police said that a zero FIR was registered in Noida and later forwarded to the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi for investigation. A zero FIR can be filed at any police station, regardless of where the incident actually took place.
The complaint was filed by Smriti Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad, who approached the Noida police on Wednesday.
In her complaint, she alleged that the woman had used abusive and objectionable language in public against the Prime Minister.
As per the FIR accessed by Hindustan Times, her complaint states, “This act not only hurt the dignity of a constitutional office but was also allegedly intended to spread hatred and disturb public peace.”
How the complainant identified the woman
Singh told Hindustan Times that multiple videos of the woman were circulating on social media, in which she could allegedly be heard using abusive language not just against the Prime Minister but also against his late mother.
She said this kind of behaviour was unacceptable and damaging to the country’s image.
Also Read | India’s first bullet train 60% complete: When will the Mumbai-Ahmedabad service begin?
Talking about how she identified the woman, Singh said, “It is unacceptable and tarnishes our country’s image on a public platform. When I came to know about the posts, I confirmed her identity with her friends through social media only and approached the police to take strict action against her to send a message in society that abusive language cannot be used for views and followers.”
FAQs
Where was the FIR filed?
A zero FIR was filed in Noida and forwarded to the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi for further investigation.
What is a zero FIR?
It is an FIR that can be filed at any police station, regardless of where the incident took place or which station has jurisdiction over it.