A Delhi court has permitted the city police to withdraw a 2019 sedition case against former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) vice president, Shehla Rashid Shora. The case was linked to her controversial tweets regarding alleged actions by the Indian Army in Kashmir.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Anuj Kumar Singh passed the order on February 27, 2025, following an application by the prosecution. The prosecution's application was submitted after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena withdrew his previous sanctions required to prosecute Shora. The Lieutenant Governor's decision, approved on December 23, 2024, followed recommendations made by a Screening Committee constituted for reviewing such cases.
Shora, known for her active involvement in student politics at JNU, faced these serious allegations primarily over tweets dated August 18, 2019. In these tweets, she had accused the Indian Army of forcibly entering homes and allegedly "torturing" local residents in Kashmir. The Army swiftly denied these accusations, labeling them baseless.
With the court's latest order, the sedition charges against Shehla Rashid Shora have formally been dropped.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Anuj Kumar Singh passed the order on February 27, 2025, following an application by the prosecution. The prosecution's application was submitted after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena withdrew his previous sanctions required to prosecute Shora. The Lieutenant Governor's decision, approved on December 23, 2024, followed recommendations made by a Screening Committee constituted for reviewing such cases.
Background of the Sedition Case
The FIR against Shehla Rashid Shora was initially filed in 2019 at Delhi's Special Cell police station, following a complaint from Alakh Alok Srivastava. The charges included sedition, promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, language, race, and place of birth, as well as inciting riots. If convicted, Shora could have faced life imprisonment.Shora, known for her active involvement in student politics at JNU, faced these serious allegations primarily over tweets dated August 18, 2019. In these tweets, she had accused the Indian Army of forcibly entering homes and allegedly "torturing" local residents in Kashmir. The Army swiftly denied these accusations, labeling them baseless.
Delhi LG's Decision to Withdraw Sanction
According to police sources, the proposal to withdraw prosecution was originally initiated by the Delhi Police and received backing from the Home Department of the Delhi Government. Consequently, Lieutenant Governor Saxena approved the Screening Committee's recommendation to withdraw the prosecution sanction.With the court's latest order, the sedition charges against Shehla Rashid Shora have formally been dropped.
Key Highlights:
- Delhi court allows police withdrawal of sedition charges against Shehla Rashid Shora.
- LG V K Saxena revoked prosecution sanction on December 23, 2024.
- Original charges involved sedition, promoting enmity, and inciting riots.
- Shora’s controversial tweets alleged misconduct by the Indian Army, which the Army had denied.
