Shimla Police booked Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut on Friday after social media remarks alleging foul play in the deaths of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sanjay Gandhi triggered a criminal complaint in Himachal Pradesh.
The case is now active.
Shimla Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh confirmed the registration of the First Information Report following a formal petition submitted to the Director General of Police by Shimla resident Capt. Atul Sharma. Police docketed the case under Sections 196, 353, and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — provisions covering the promotion of enmity between groups, circulating false statements that incite public mischief, and criminal defamation.
The dispute stems directly from statements posted across Ranaut’s verified social media handle on November 10. In those posts, the Mandi parliamentarian attacked Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, framing her entry into Indian public life through an inflammatory historical narrative. Ranaut referred to Sonia Gandhi as a "mysterious foreign national" who arrived at an overseas cafe before three members of the Gandhi dynasty died in succession, clearing a path for her to helm the national political machinery with the commentary: "How convenient".
Ranaut's posts also highlighted Maneka Gandhi’s sudden expulsion from the official family residence following Sanjay Gandhi’s fatal air crash, while separately scrutinizing Sonia Gandhi's 15-year wait to secure Indian citizenship.
The complainant pushed back immediately.
Capt. Atul Sharma argued in his petition that Ranaut’s digital narrative stepped far past legitimate political discourse, seeking instead to provoke public hostility, damage national integration, and shatter communal peace.
The FIR was registered on Friday following a complaint filed by Capt. Atul Sharma, and a detailed police investigation will now follow.
Gaurav Singh, Superintendent of Police, Shimla
Sharma demanded that state authorities seize digital logs and run a time-bound cyber-forensic audit on the parliamentarian's verified account to establish origin, dissemination, and intent.
Investigators are examining whether the online commentary breached statutory safeguards designed to stop the spread of inflammatory rumors and public discord.
| Case Parameter | Official Status |
|---|---|
| Accused Person | Kangana Ranaut (BJP MP, Mandi) |
| Complainant | Capt. Atul Sharma (Resident, Shimla) |
| Investigating Authority | Shimla District Police, Himachal Pradesh |
| Statutory Charges | Sections 196, 353, and 356 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) |
| Primary Grievance | Inflammatory claims regarding the deaths of Indira, Rajiv, and Sanjay Gandhi |
| Procedural Phase | FIR Registered; Cyber-Forensic Verification Underway |
Shimla Police confirmed that cyber-cell teams will inspect the November 10 message metadata and question relevant parties before submitting an initial progress report to the district judicial magistrate.