Raipur man booked for 'outraging religious feelings' over a news-channel interview granted anticipatory bail
Raipur's Civil Lines police registered a case under Section 299 of the new penal code against a 32-year-old Raipur resident, on a complaint that remarks he made in a news-channel interview, which went viral, insulted the Hindu religion. Section 299 was the only offence charged. On 29 September 2026 the Chhattisgarh High Court granted him anticipatory bail; the State's counsel told the court the case diary showed no criminal record.
This page records what the cited court records and reports say happened. Findings belong to the court or authority that made them; this register adds none of its own. Names of private individuals are withheld unless a naming gate clears them.
How we verify →Anticipatory bail granted on 29 September 2026; the case remains under investigation.
What happened
The High Court recorded that a complainant told Civil Lines police the applicant made a statement during an interview on a news channel intended to outrage the religious feelings of the Hindu community, and that the clip went viral on social media. Crime No. 451 of 2026 was registered under Section 299 of the BNS alone.
The applicant's counsel argued that the statement was not aimed at any person, community or religion, and that Section 299 requires a deliberate and malicious intention to outrage religious feelings. On the court's query, the State's counsel said the case diary showed no criminal antecedents.
The court granted anticipatory bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety, without commenting on the merits.
What the complaint alleged, as the order records it
“applicant made certain statement during an interaction/interview on a news channel with intent to outrage religious feelings of Hindu community by insulting the Hindu religion and belief, which subsequently went viral on social media platforms”
MCRCA No. 1514 of 2026, order dated 29 September 2026, para 2 — read the full text
Prosecuted for words
The whole case is a remark in a television interview. The order records no violence, threat or harm arising from it.
What we could not confirm
The order does not quote the remark or name the channel beyond the applicant's reference to the interview. It makes no finding on the merits. Names of the applicant and complainant are withheld.