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Uttarakhand High Court

WPCRL/165/2026 on 20 January, 2026

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                               WPCRL No.165 of 2026


                               Hon'ble Alok Mahra, J.

Mr. Saurav Adhikari, learned counsel for the petitioner.

2. Mr. Rakesh Joshi, learned Brief Holder for the State.

3. By means of the present petition, the petitioner has sought a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing F.I.R. No. 0020 of 2026, registered under Sections 192, 196, 299, 302, 352, 353(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 at Police Station Sitargaj, District Udham Singh Nagar, as well as a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondent nos. 1 and 2 not to arrest the petitioner pursuant to the aforesaid F.I.R.

4. Issue notice to respondent no. 3, returnable within six weeks.

5. Steps be taken within one week.

6. List the case after service of notice upon respondent no. 3.

7. Meanwhile, learned counsel for the State/respondents may file a counter affidavit.

of 2026).

9. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the impugned F.I.R. has been lodged at the instance of respondent no. 3 alleging that the religious sentiments of the complainant were hurt on account of certain gestures and allegedly derogatory words used by the petitioner in a public blog/post uploaded on the petitioner's social media account, allegedly concerning Gods and Goddesses revered in the State of Uttarakhand. He would further submit that in respect of the very same social media blog/post, as many as seven F.I.Rs. have been lodged against the petitioner at different police stations. In one such matter, namely Case Crime No. 3 of 2026, the petitioner has already been granted bail by the court concerned vide order dated 13.01.2026.

10. It is further submitted that the petitioner is willing to remove the impugned blog/post from her social media account and undertakes to exercise restraint in future while using language or expressions that may hurt the sentiments of local residents.

11. Having considered the submissions advanced and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, as an interim measure, it is directed that the petitioner shall not be arrested pursuant to F.I.R. No. 0020 of 2026, registered under Sections 192, 196, 299, 302, 352, 353(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 at Police Station Sitargaj, District Udham Singh Nagar, provided the petitioner cooperates with the investigation.

12. Stay application (IA 1 of 2026) stands disposed of.

13. Urgency application (I.A. No. 2 of 2026) also stands disposed of accordingly.

(Alok Mahra, J.) Vacation Judge 20.01.2026 Mamta