Allahabad High Court Grants Bail to Man Who Forwarded ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ Post
Court Rules Supporting a Foreign Country Does Not Threaten India’s Sovereignty and Finds No Evidence of Deliberate Offence
The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Sajid Chaudhary, who was accused of forwarding a social media post that stated “Pakistan Zindabad.” Justice Santosh Rai observed that such an act, without evidence of a clear intention to promote secession or harm India’s sovereignty, does not constitute an offence under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The Court clarified that to attract the offence of endangering India’s sovereignty, there must be a deliberate effort to incite rebellion or promote subversive activities, which was absent in this case. Although the act of forwarding a pro-Pakistan post might cause anger or disharmony, it does not threaten the country’s unity or integrity, the Court held.
Chaudhary was booked under Section 152, which replaced the offence of sedition, after he was accused of attempting to support a foreign nation. The Court noted the absence of concrete evidence linking his actions to any intent to threaten national sovereignty. Given that he has been in jail since May and considering the overcrowding in prisons, the Court granted bail with conditions to prevent misuse of his liberty and ensure his participation in the trial.