The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to consider a plea filed by Left party leaders seeking urgent action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in connection with a controversial video that allegedly shows him aiming and firing a rifle at individuals appearing to belong to a particular community.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria, took note of the submissions by advocate Nizam Pasha, who appeared on behalf of leaders from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist).
“We seek urgent intervention of this court with respect to disturbing speeches made by the sitting CM of Assam, including a recent video posted where he is shown as shooting at members of a particular community. Complaints have been filed, but no FIR is registered,” Pasha submitted.
Responding to the request, the CJI remarked,
“The problem is, as soon as elections come, part of the election is fought in the Supreme Court. That is the problem. We will find out and will give a date.”
The controversy stems from a video shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 7. The video purportedly shows CM Sarma taking aim with a rifle and firing at two individuals—one wearing a skull cap and another with a beard.
After widespread outrage and condemnation from political and civil society groups, the BJP deleted the video. Critics accused the video of inciting communal hatred and glorifying violence during the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
The plea before the apex court contends that despite public outrage and multiple complaints, no first information report (FIR) has been registered against Sarma, prompting the petitioners to approach the judiciary for intervention.
The court is expected to list the matter shortly for further consideration.
