Supreme Court Grants Relief To Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi; Stays Arrest

Congress Rajya Sabha MP and poet Imran Pratapgarhi has received temporary relief from the Supreme Court in the ongoing legal matter concerning an FIR filed against him. The court has stayed his arrest until further orders and issued a notice to the Gujarat government, requesting a reply by February 10. The case will be heard next on February 11.

The legal troubles for Pratapgarhi began after the Gujarat High Court refused to quash the FIR registered against him. The High Court ruled that, as the investigation was in its early stages, it saw no reason to intervene under Section 528 of the Indian Civil Defense Code 2023 or Article 226 of the Constitution. Consequently, the High Court dismissed the petition, signaling that the legal process should proceed.

FIR Based On Controversial Video

The FIR against Pratapgarhi stems from a video he shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after attending a mass marriage program in Jamnagar, Gujarat. In the video, Pratapgarhi says, “Us Rab Ki Kasam Hanste-Hasste Itni Nushe Dafa Denge,” which prompted a complaint with the Jamnagar Police. The complaint, lodged on February 3 by an advocate’s clerk, accused the Congress leader of disturbing social harmony.

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In response to the complaint, authorities booked Pratapgarhi under Sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, etc.) and 197 (imputations, claims prejudicial to national integration) of the Indian Penal Code. Pratapgarhi challenged the FIR in the Gujarat High Court, but the court rejected his petition, emphasizing that as an MP, he should act responsibly and respect the legal process.

While the Supreme Court has stayed the arrest, the legal battle for Imran Pratapgarhi is far from over. With the case scheduled for further hearing in February, the outcome will depend on the responses from both the Gujarat government and the court’s assessment of the legal issues at hand.