How can poem on non-violence be a crime: Apex court

It's ultimately a poem. It is not against any religion. This poem indirectly says even if somebody indulges in violence, we will not... That's the message

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday raised serious concerns over the Gujarat Police's decision to register a first information report (FIR) against Congress Rajya Sabha parliamentarian Imran Pratapgarhi for posting a poem on social media, questioning how a piece promoting non-violence had become the subject of criminal prosecution.

A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, while hearing Pratapgarhi's petition challenging the Gujarat high court's refusal to quash the FIR, also pulled up the state for failing to appreciate the true meaning of the poem.

"Please, see the poem. The high court has not appreciated the meaning of the poem... It's ultimately a poem," justice Oka told advocate Swati Ghildiyal, appearing for the state.