Plea challenges case against journalist over alleged WhatsApp remarks on Hindu beliefs
March 12, 2026: The Supreme Court of India has issued notice on a plea filed by journalist Buddha Prakash Bouddha seeking to quash a criminal case registered against him over a WhatsApp message allegedly containing objectionable remarks about Hindu beliefs and the Brahmin community. Bouddha has challenged a 2025 order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that refused to interfere with the FIR lodged against him. The top court has sought a response from the state while also considering the petitioner’s request for interim relief as criminal proceedings continue before a trial court.
The case stems from a message shared by Bouddha in September 2025 in a WhatsApp group titled “B P Bauddh Patrakar News Group.” According to the complaint, the message contained remarks described as derogatory toward the Hindu religion and the Brahmin community. Based on the complaint, police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Section 196(1)(b) for promoting enmity between groups, Section 299 for insulting religious beliefs and Section 353 related to public mischief.
Bouddha had argued before the High Court that he merely shared excerpts from a book written by Surendra Kumar Sharma and had no intention of provoking communal tension. However, the state opposed the plea, claiming the material circulated was inflammatory. After the High Court declined to quash the FIR, Bouddha approached the Supreme Court. A bench comprising B. V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan has now issued notice to the respondents and scheduled the matter for further hearing on March 25.