Rahul Gandhi faces FIR over Haldwani untouchability remarks

Nainital SSP Manjunath T C confirmed that the case was registered on August 30 after local resident Amit Kumar filed a written complaint at the Kotwali Haldwani station. According to police, the complainant, a member of the Scheduled Caste community, alleged that Gandhi misrepresented facts and cast the ritual in an 'untouchability angle' that caused public offense. Kumar provided video evidence to support his claims, leading officers to initiate proceedings under sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alongside section 3(1)(q) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Circle Officer Amit Saini is currently leading the investigation.

The Congress party has dismissed the move as a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent, labeling the FIR evidence of an 'anti-Dalit mindset' within the BJP. Party leaders asserted that Gandhi’s original critique targeted a 'shuddhikaran yajna' performed at a venue previously used by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. While Gandhi has publicly demanded legal action against those who performed the ritual—arguing it violates constitutional protections—the current FIR focuses specifically on his rhetoric surrounding the incident. Congress leader Rajkumar Verka stated that the party remains undeterred, characterizing the legal challenge as an affront to Dalit self-respect.