FIR over objectionable posts: Folk singer Rathore appears at Hazratganj Police Station following SC order

January 19, 2026

New Delhi: Folk singer Neha Singh Rathore appeared at Hazratganj Police Station on Monday morning in compliance with an order from the Supreme Court in connection with an FIR lodged against her for alleged objectionable posts on social media after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters, Neha Singh Rathore said, “I had received an order from the Supreme Court of India to appear at Hazratganj Police Station before the Investigating Officer at 11:00 AM on 19.01.2026. I have come here in compliance with that order.”

Interim Protection From Arrest Granted Earlier

The Supreme Court, earlier on January 7, had granted Neha Singh Rathore interim protection from arrest, allowing her to respond to the FIR lodged against her without fear of immediate detention.

FIR Details and Charges Explained

The FIR, filed at Hazratganj Police Station on April 27, 2025, under various Sections of BNS including 196(1)(a), 196(1)(b), 197(1)(a), 197(1)(b), 197(1)©, 197(1)(d), 353(1)©, 353(2), 302, 152, and Section 69(a) of the IT Act, was registered by national poet Abhay Pratap Singh, also known as Abhay Singh Nirbhik.

Allegations Linked to Social Media Posts After Pahalgam Attack

Rathore has been accused of posting content on her X handle, Neha Singh Rathore @nehafolksinger, allegedly questioning the deaths of 26 victims in the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, carried out by terrorists reportedly backed by Pakistan, targeted primarily Hindu tourists.

Police Probe and Legal Proceedings So Far

The FIR alleges that Rathore’s posts not only questioned the circumstances of the attack but also sought to incite communal tension, damage national harmony, and undermine public order by spreading objectionable content and controversial commentary on social media. Authorities have described the posts as potentially prejudicial to national integrity and peace between communities.

The Pahalgam attack had sparked widespread outrage across India, with citizens expressing strong condemnation of Pakistan-supported terrorism. In this sensitive context, Rathore’s alleged social media activity became the subject of legal scrutiny, leading to the registration of the FIR and subsequent judicial proceedings.