Chandigarh, April 29 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the investigation notices issued to actor Raveena Tandon, filmmaker Farah Khan, and several others in connection with an FIR registered by Ajnala police in Amritsar on December 25, 2019, over allegations of hurting religious sentiments.
Comedian Bharti Singh, screenplay writer Abbas Ajij Dalal, and Frames Production Company Private Limited were also named in the FIR. According to case records, a total of four FIRs were lodged against the group across different districts in Punjab between December 2019 and January 2020.
These include cases in Ferozepur (December 28), Gurdaspur (December 30), and Ropar (January 3, 2020).
The case stems from an episode of the television show Backbenchers, hosted by Farah Khan, in which celebrities including Tandon and Bharti Singh participated. Advocate Abhinav Sood, representing the petitioners, stated that the controversy arose during a segment involving spelling and word meaning.
“Tandon spelt the word correctly, while Bharti Singh misspelt it and made a reference in Hindi,” Sood said.
The petition argued that the exchange lacked any intent to insult or target religious beliefs, especially those of the Christian community.
The accused moved the High Court seeking quashing of the FIRs, calling the allegations “unjustified, false and incorrect.”
Their petitions stated that none of the legal elements required to constitute an offence under Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code—deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings—were present.
The High Court had earlier granted interim relief by staying their arrests.
However, earlier this month, the accused received fresh notices to join the police investigation. Those summons have now been stayed as well, following the High Court’s latest order.
“The matter is next listed for hearing on July 14,” Sood confirmed.
