MP HC grants bail to 2 arrested over Iran reel, questions FIR

Bhopal/Jabalpur: The MP high court granted bail to two men from the minority community, who were arrested in Raisen over a reel allegedly supporting Iran.The duo were charged under section 196 (1) of BNS for promoting enmity between different communities. They had been in custody since March 8, 2026.In an order on April 9, 2026, the bench of Justice Ramkumar Chaubey said "It appears that the police has registered an FIR against the applicants even without having sufficient material constituting the alleged offence.""None of the content can be said to be promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., rather it is only showing a protest in favour of a foreign country" said the judge while granting bail. Raisen police had arrested Wasim Khan and Yousuf Mehafooz following an FIR lodged by one Brajesh Chavariya on March 7, 2026. Chavariya said in the complaint that he saw a reel on Instagram showing the applicants along with others raising slogans in favour of Iran. While granting bail, the judge further said that the material placed in the case diary shows that the offence has been registered against the applicants only on the basis of a reel on Instagram in which the applicants along with others are expressing support for a foreign country Iran, which is currently facing war with the USA.With these observations, the judge ordered release of the two accused on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety of the same amount.