Karnataka High Court quashes case against shopkeeper for insulting PM Modi

The Karnataka High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a shopkeeper, Imtiyaz Nuruddin Chinchali, who was accused of making insulting remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The case originated in January 2026 after a social worker questioned the shopkeeper regarding barricades placed outside his business that allegedly obstructed public traffic.

Justice Venkatesh Naik T ruled that the allegations were general and did not meet the legal requirements for an offense under Section 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The court noted that there was no specific evidence that the petitioner intended to insult the complainant or provoke a breach of peace. The judge emphasized that mere rudeness or political statements do not necessarily constitute a criminal offense.

Additionally, the court highlighted a four-day delay between the incident and the filing of the complaint, which remained unexplained. The court concluded that continuing the proceedings would constitute an abuse of the legal process, as the material on record failed to disclose the essential ingredients of the alleged crimes.