Gauhati High Court Quashes Case Against Influencer over ‘Goat’ Remark on Assamese Women

The Gauhati High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against financial influencer Abhishek Kar, who was accused of making derogatory remarks about Assamese women during a YouTube podcast.

An FIR registered in January 2025 invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the IT Act, and the Assam Witch Hunting Act.

Justice Pranjal Das held that none of the penal provisions were attracted. The Court ruled that Kar’s statement did not promote enmity under Sections 196 or 197 BNS, was not obscene under Section 67 of the IT Act, and did not meet the definition of “witch” under the 2015 Act.

Finding no legal basis for prosecution, the Court quashed the FIR and chargesheet.

[Abhishek Kar v. The State of Assam]