The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has set aside a lower court order that closed an FIR related to an allegedly offensive Facebook post depicting Lord Krishna in a derogatory manner. The case arose from a complaint by P. Paramasivan, who alleged that Sathish Kumar posted a manipulated image of Lord Krishna watching women bathing, accompanied by objectionable comments, with the intent to insult Hindu deities and women, and to provoke communal tension.
The complaint led to an FIR under Sections 298, 504, 505(2) of the IPC and Section 67 of the IT Act. The Cyber Crime Police, Thoothukudi, closed the case as "undetected" after Facebook (Meta) declined to share user details without a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) request. However, the court found that police made no further efforts through official channels to obtain the information, despite the profile having visible personal details.
Read also:- Bombay HC Clears Husband, In-Laws of 498-A Charges Over Lack of Evidence
Justice K. Murali Shankar observed:
"Depicting Hindu Gods in a disrespectful manner, intentionally hurting the sentiments of millions, cannot be justified. Such actions can spark enmity, religious outrage, and disturb communal harmony."
Read also:- Rajasthan High Court Upholds Minor's Right to Continue Pregnancy, Rejects Parents' Plea for Termination
The court also noted procedural lapses by the Magistrate, who claimed the complainant did not appear or object, despite case records showing objections were filed. Referring to a Full Bench ruling, the court clarified that an "undetected" report is only interim, and investigation should continue.
Setting aside the closure, the court directed police to complete the probe within three months, stressing the need for sensitivity in matters affecting religious sentiments and for ensuring diligent investigation.
Case Title:- P. Paramasivan vs. Inspector of Police, Cyber Crime Police Station, Thoothukudi
Case No.:- Crl.R.C.(MD) No. 526 of 2025
