Sukhpal Khaira booked for 'sexually coloured' posts on woman AAP leader; police notice to Xਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਸੁਖਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਖੈਹਰਾ 'ਤੇ ਮਹਿਲਾ 'ਆਪ' ਆਗੂ ਬਾਰੇ 'ਯੌਨ-ਰੰਗੀ' ਪੋਸਟਾਂ 'ਤੇ FIR; X ਨੂੰ ਨੋਟਿਸ

The Punjab Police has registered an FIR against Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira on charges of sexual harassment and insulting the modesty of a woman, sharply escalating a bitter political row between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the opposition Congress in the state. The case was filed following a complaint by a woman AAP leader who flagged Khaira's social media posts about her on X.

What the FIR says

The FIR has been registered under Sections 75(1)(iv), 75(3), 79, 351 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Section 75(1)(iv) covers sexual harassment in the form of sexually coloured remarks, while Section 75(3) prescribes punishment of up to a year in prison, a fine, or both. Section 79 deals with words, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman, including verbal abuse and digital messages meant to degrade her. Section 351 pertains to criminal intimidation, Section 61 to criminal conspiracy, and Section 67 of the IT Act punishes the publication or transmission of obscene material in electronic form.

Police sends notice to X

On September 27, the office of the Additional Director General of Police at the State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre in Mohali emailed X, directing the platform to take down posts by Khaira and two other accounts within three hours, noting that a criminal case had been registered. The notice described the posts as containing "derogatory, objectionable and unsubstantiated remarks" targeting the woman's character, conduct and reputation. It said the allegations were of a personal nature and were made without "credible, verifiable or supporting material", and could harm her dignity, reputation and privacy.

The notice listed six URLs, including ones from Khaira's account, and asked X to disable access to the content and preserve the records. It also warned that the platform's safe-harbour protection could be at risk if the content remained accessible after X had "actual knowledge" of it.

How the row began

The political row goes back to around September 25, when Khaira alleged that AAP's Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia was occupying a government house in Sector 39, Chandigarh, that had been allotted to a Punjab minister. In the course of that attack, Khaira made comments about the woman AAP leader, who denied the allegation and accused the Congress leader of attacking her character. Khaira, in turn, objected to remarks she made, which he described as abusive. The chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for Women also criticised Khaira's remarks.

Khaira's defence

Khaira has termed the FIR an attempt by the AAP government to "muzzle" his voice. He questioned why the police notice sent to X did not mention the FIR number or the police station where the case was registered. Writing on X, Khaira said, "When the AAP government can't fight me logically, it resorts to false cases and the police for support." He alleged that FIRs had been "secretly" registered over his two videos concerning the woman leader, and claimed that while X had not removed his posts, Facebook had deleted the videos.

What charges has Sukhpal Khaira been booked under?

He has been booked under BNS Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 61 (criminal conspiracy), along with Section 67 of the IT Act covering obscene material in electronic form.

What did Punjab Police ask X to do?

The State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre in Mohali asked X to take down posts by Khaira and two other accounts within three hours, disable access to six listed URLs and preserve the records, warning of consequences for the platform's safe-harbour protection.

What is Khaira's response to the FIR?

He calls the FIR an attempt by the AAP government to "muzzle" his voice, says the case is false, and questions why the police notice to X mentioned neither the FIR number nor the police station.