Filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap is facing legal action after a Surat court directed the local police to register a criminal case against him. The order follows a private complaint regarding controversial social media posts allegedly targeting the Brahmin community.
The directive was issued on Saturday by Judicial Magistrate First Class A. S. Jani, who noted that there were sufficient grounds to investigate whether the filmmaker’s online commentary defamed a specific community and risked inciting social tension.
Origin of the Controversy
The legal proceedings stem from a complaint filed by Kamlesh Raval, a lawyer and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader. According to the complaint:
- The Catalyst: The dispute began when Kashyap responded to online criticism surrounding the trailer launch of the Hindi biographical film Phule.
- The Allegation: Raval alleged that Kashyap’s subsequent posts on X (formerly Twitter) contained objectionable remarks that insulted the broader Brahmin community.
- Continued Interaction: The complaint further noted that the filmmaker continued to double down on his comments while engaging with users who opposed his views, potentially creating divisions between social groups.
The plea also referenced a past social media post from January 2020, where Kashyap’s criticism of the Union government reportedly included language the complainant deemed offensive toward Hindus.
Legal Directives and Charges
The court has instructed law enforcement authorities to register a First Information Report (FIR) under specific sections of the law. The investigation will focus on – Promoting enmity and hostility between different social groups. Intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of public peace. The circulation of misleading information online.
Raval argued in his submission that because filmmakers and actors hold immense public influence across diverse age groups, their public statements carry significant social weight. Furthermore, the complainant stated that a non-bailable warrant had previously been issued against Kashyap after he reportedly failed to respond to prior legal notices and summonses regarding the matter.
As of now, Anurag Kashyap has not issued a public statement or reaction regarding the court’s latest order.
