HC relief to YouTuber in Karauli remarks case

Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court has granted interim protection from arrest to YouTuber Gautam Khattar, who is facing an FIR lodged by UP Police over alleged derogatory remarks against ‘Sri Karauli Shankar Mahadev Baba’ (also known as Karauli Sarkar).

Hearing Khattar’s plea, a division bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena, in an order dated May 11, granted the state a week to seek instructions and directed that the petitioner shall not be arrested till May 19, the next date of listing.

The FIR was lodged by Priyanka Dwivedi of Kanpur, alleging that Khattar, claiming to be the founder of ‘Sanatan Mahasangh’, used his social media platforms to spread provocative and hateful content.

According to the complaint, Khattar uploaded a video related to the ‘Pattabhishek’ (anointment) of ‘Sri Sri 1008 Purna Guru Sri Karauli Shankar Das Ji Maharaj’ as Mahamandaleshwar of the Shri Panchayati Akhada Naya Udasin (Nirvan), Kankhal, Haridwar, and allegedly made indecent remarks aimed at tarnishing his image and hurting the sentiments of his followers.

Khattar’s counsel argued that the speech merely stated that no individual should project himself as God and constituted an expression of opinion, not an offence under law. It was further submitted that the FIR does not disclose any deliberate or malicious intent to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens.