Dehradun, September 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Nainital Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons over an alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual carried out at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani following a public event addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on August 8.
The development comes after a Zero FIR was earlier registered in Bengaluru in connection with the allegation.
Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police Manjunath T.C. said complaints and applications had been received from organisations, individuals and groups across Uttarakhand. More than 19 complaints were received in Nainital district alone, all of which were examined from a legal perspective.
He said the FIR was registered at Haldwani Kotwali on the basis of a formal written complaint submitted by Anju, a local resident of Haldwani and the first complainant in the matter.
“Complaints and applications were being received from various organisations, individuals, and groups across the state, and from different places, regarding the incident. More than 19 applications were received in Nainital district only. All of these were being legally examined,” the SSP said.
He added that senior IPS officer Jagdish Chandra had been assigned to investigate the case, considering the sensitive nature of the matter.
The SSP said the FIR had been registered against unidentified persons in connection with the alleged purification ritual at the venue and appealed to anyone possessing relevant evidence to approach the investigating officer.
Anju, who is also an advocate, rejected claims made by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttarakhand that the alleged purification ritual was carried out in response to “Jihadi slogans”.
She said she had attended Kharge’s event and claimed that no such slogans were raised. According to her, edited videos and misleading information were subsequently circulated on social media for political purposes.
“I haven’t named anyone in the FIR, nor do I have any personal enmity with anyone,” she said.
Anju said she filed her complaint on August 15 after seeing social media videos in which a person was allegedly targeted and a purification ritual was shown being performed against Kharge.
She said the case had been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST Act.
Calling for a fair and impartial investigation, Anju alleged that circulation of edited videos and attempts to damage a person’s social image amounted to unconstitutional conduct.
She said names could be added to the chargesheet after the investigation identifies those responsible. Anju also said she would approach the court if she was dissatisfied with the police investigation.
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