Karnataka High Court Refuses to Quash FIR Over Offensive Images on WhatsApp

The Karnataka High Court declined to set aside an FIR against a man accused of sharing offensive images of Hindu deities and certain politicians in a WhatsApp group.

The matter arose from a petition seeking the quashing of proceedings initiated under Section 295A of the IPC and Section 67 of the IT Act. The Court held that the material disclosed a prima facie case of outraging religious sentiments and observed that such content is not protected by freedom of speech.

It further stated that questions of intent must be examined by the trial court and that alleged lapses in proceeding against other group administrators were not grounds to terminate the case.

The police were directed to complete the investigation at the earliest.

[Sirajuddin v. State of Karnataka]