Delhi Police Drop Case Against Teen Over Remarks Against PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have decided not to file a case against a 15-year-old girl who was accused of using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a viral video recorded during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, sources told TOI. The decision comes after the girl issued a public apology, saying she had been "influenced" into repeating the remarks and describing the incident as her "first and last mistake." A Zero FIR had initially been registered at Noida's Expressway police station before being transferred to Delhi, where police examined the matter as the alleged incident occurred within their jurisdiction.

In an apology video shared on social media on Friday, the girl, who identified herself as 15 years old, said the viral clip had not been uploaded by her and that she was "extremely embarrassed and ashamed." "I went to Connaught Place with my friends in July. We came across a group of people who were using abusive and objectionable language against the prime minister. They influenced me and encouraged me to repeat those words, and I did," she said. She added, "I am not able to look anyone in the eye. I appeal to the entire country and everyone to please forgive me. I am only 15 years old. This is my first and last mistake, and I will never repeat such an act again."

The apology came after a complaint was lodged against her, leading to the registration of a Zero FIR in Noida. Station house officer of Expressway police station Amit Khatri had said the girl currently lives with her family in Faridabad. "The case was registered as a Zero FIR at the Expressway police station and has been transferred to Parliament Street police station in New Delhi. Further action will be taken by the Delhi Police," he told PTI. Earlier, Delhi Police had said they would first examine the contents of the Zero FIR before deciding on the next course of action.

The FIR was transferred from Noida after authorities determined that the alleged offence had taken place in the national capital. The Zero FIR had been registered on the complaint of a Ghaziabad resident. The case was booked under Sections 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita before being transferred to Delhi Police.