Allahabad High Court Refuses To Quash FIR Against Man Who Allegedly Called Prime Minister, Home Minister 'Dog'

The Allahabad High Court recently refused to quash the First Information Report filed against one Mumtaz Mansoori who allegedly called the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister of India, Amit Shah, and other Union Ministers as 'Dog'.

The Bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rajendra Kumar-IV observed that although our Constitution recognizes freedom of speech, however, such right does not extend to hurling abuses or making derogatory remarks against any citizen much less the Prime Minister or other Ministers of the Government of India.

As per the allegations made in the FIR, a copy of which is with Live Law, "highly derogatory remarks" (calling them Dog) were made by the petitioner from his Facebook ID against the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and other Ministers of Government of India.

Subsequent to this, a case was registered against Mansoori under Section 504 IPC and Section 67 IT Act. Challenging the registration of the FIR, he had moved to the High Court seeking a quashing of the same.

However, refusing to quash the FIR, the Court, while dismissing the writ plea, observed thus:

"The First Information Report clearly discloses commissioning of cognizable offence. We find no good ground to interfere in the present writ petition filed with a prayer to quash such First Information Report...Authorities shall be at liberty to proceed in the matter in accordance with law and conclude investigation at the earliest."

Case title - Mumtaz Mansoori v. State Of U.P. And 2 Others [CRIMINAL MISC. WRIT PETITION No. - 7015 of 2020]

Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (AB) 322

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