Uttarakhand Police File FIR in Kharge Venue 'Purification' Row

Nearly a month after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified individuals in connection with the alleged 'purification' of the venue.

The case was filed at the Haldwani Kotwali police station on Monday, based on a complaint by Anju, a local social activist and lawyer who was the first to formally lodge a written complaint in the matter. Police said they had received around 80 complaints and petitions from across the state, including 19 from Nainital district alone.

Nainital Superintendent of Police Manjunath TC said the force conducted a legal review of all applications concerning the events at Ramlila Maidan on August 10, which included cleaning rituals and an alleged purification ceremony. The FIR has been registered under Section 3(1)(r) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to promoting enmity between groups and deliberately outraging religious feelings. No individuals have been named as accused in the case.

The complaint alleges that after Kharge, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste, spoke at the rally on August 8, some individuals linked to the BJP had the venue 'purified' two days later, with photographs and videos of the act circulated on social media. The complaint states this action "prima facie appears to be an act intended to create caste discrimination, social insult and hatred." It also urged police to investigate a separate, allegedly edited video that presented religious slogans in a controversial manner to foster animosity.

In Delhi, a group of Dalit Congress MPs and leaders, including K Raju and Sasikanth Senthil, attempted to file a complaint at the Parliament Street police station. Raju said the SHO refused to register a zero FIR even after two hours of persuasion. Senthil contrasted the delay with the swift registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi last month for allegedly giving the incident a caste angle.

The controversy began when the Haldwani-based Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas organised a cleaning drive and 'Shuddhi Yagya' at the venue a day after Kharge's rally. The organisation has denied any political affiliation, while the BJP has distanced itself from the event. Kharge later raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha, stating the act made him feel the sting of untouchability. The investigation has been entrusted to senior officer Jagdish Chandra.