The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted bail to Dr. Nasheem Bano, a Muslim guest lecturer arrested for allegedly forwarding a WhatsApp post after the Pahalgam attack, observing that merely sharing videos or messages — even if they may offend — does not justify keeping someone behind bars indefinitely, reported the Maktoob Media.
“Prima facie, at the outset, it can very safely be said that educated persons and persons who are holding the post of Guest Faculty in the college have greater responsibility when forwarding WhatsApp messages, but simply on the ground of forwarding messages or videos which may hurt the religious sentiments of a community, a person cannot be indefinitely kept in jail,” noted Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh. Dr. Bano has been in custody since April 28, 2025.
The lecturer had approached the High Court after the Trial Court rejected her bail application under Sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups on religious or other grounds), 299 (acts intended to outrage religious feelings), and 353(2) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
According to the prosecution, the complaint was filed by ABVP member Deependra Jogi, who alleged that Dr. Bano shared a video titled “Naya Ravan” in a WhatsApp group, supposedly intended to hurt religious sentiments. The ABVP held a late-night protest at City Kotwali, demanding her arrest and strict action.
However, the defense argued that Dr. Bano is a well-educated woman with no malicious intent and that the video was shared unintentionally. Her family has maintained that the video was not created by her and was forwarded by mistake, claiming the issue is being politicized and exaggerated for communal polarization.
The High Court, while granting her bail, instructed that Dr. Bano be released on furnishing a personal bond of ₹50,000 and one solvent surety of the same amount. The court also directed her to appear before the trial court on all hearing dates and to refrain from committing any similar offence or interfering with the investigation or witnesses.
