The Cockroach Janta Party criticised the filing of a criminal case against a woman for using abusive language toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent protest in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Spokesperson Saurav Das stated that affected parties should file defamation suits rather than involve the criminal justice system.
Das responded to the FIR against Ruchika Singh by noting that while offensive remarks deserve no approval, criminal charges could suppress free expression. He added that anyone facing derogatory comments may pursue civil or criminal defamation actions, yet applying criminal procedures to demonstrators remains unacceptable and no individual should face punishment solely for objectionable words.
The comments followed a Zero FIR lodged against Singh for making abusive statements during the NEET paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar on July 23. Das urged young demonstrators to choose their language carefully when voicing dissent but insisted criminal measures were excessive.
He requested that younger protesters remain cautious with insults or remarks and called on police to avoid misusing authority for political purposes. In a later social media post, Das described the case as an improper use of police powers and noted that many lawmakers face criminal cases, suggesting authorities direct attention there instead of targeting a 25-year-old.
The FIR was filed on July 29 at the Expressway police station in Gautam Buddh Nagar following a complaint from a Ghaziabad resident. It cited sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita covering intentional insult, public mischief and defamation. A Zero FIR permits registration at any station to prevent delays from jurisdiction issues. The protest, led by students over NEET irregularities, ended on July 25 after 36 days.
