R. Sreelekha booked for derogatory remarks against Rahul Gandhi

Punalur police have registered a case against former Kerala DGP and current BJP councillor R. Sreelekha for making derogatory remarks about Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The FIR, filed under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alleges an intent to provoke a riot.

The controversy stems from a speech Sreelekha delivered during a BJP event in Punalur, where she compared Gandhi’s political conduct during a protest in Delhi to the agitation caused by drug consumption. She specifically used the term ‘Thandava’ to describe his actions, a comparison that Congress leaders claim insults both Gandhi and Hindu religious sentiments by linking a divine cosmic dance to drug-induced behavior.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has demanded that Sreelekha withdraw her comments and apologize to Gandhi. Following complaints from the Youth Congress and United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders, investigators are reviewing video footage of the event to establish the context of the remarks before recording a detailed statement from Sreelekha.