''Anti-National Acts Routine Due to Lenient Courts': Allahabad High Court Denies Bail for Pro-Pakistan Post
Shortly after the Pahalgam massacre, the 62-year-old accused shared a pro-Pakistan video on Facebook where an appeal was made for propagating Jihad, saying Pakistan zindabad;
In a strongly worded order, the Allahabad High Court on June 26, 2025, refused to grant bail to a 62-year-old man accused of sharing a Facebook video allegedly promoting anti-national sentiments, stating that courts in India have become “liberal and tolerant towards such acts of people with anti-national bent of mind".
The bench of Justice Siddharth, presiding over the bail plea of accused Ansar Ahmad Siddique in a case registered under Sections 197 and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), said that the conduct of the applicant amounted to an affront to the Constitution and national integrity.
The FIR, registered at Chhatari Police Station in Bulandshahar district, alleged that Siddique had shared a video on Facebook on May 3, 2025, glorifying “Pakistan Zindabad” and appealing to others to support Pakistanis. The prosecution further argued that this post came shortly after a terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 Hindu men were killed, implying the applicant’s sympathy towards terror acts motivated by religious extremism.
Court observed that such acts not only hurt national sentiments but also threatened the sovereignty and unity of the country. Quoting Article 51-A of the Constitution, Justice Siddharth said every citizen is duty-bound to uphold the nation’s integrity, its flag, anthem, and constitutional values.
“Clearly the act of the applicant is disrespectful to the Constitution and its ideals and also his act amounts to challenging the sovereignty of India and adversely affecting unity and integrity of India by sharing anti-social and anti-Indian post,” the judge stated.
Rejecting the accused’s counsel's submission that Siddique is a senior citizen undergoing medical treatment and merely shared a video, the court said, “His irresponsible and anti-national conduct does not entitle him to seek protection of his right to liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India".
Issuing a warning on the increasing frequency of such incidents, the court remarked, “Commission of such offences is becoming routine affair in this country because the courts are liberal and tolerant towards such acts of people with anti national bent of mind. It is not a fit case for enlarging the applicant on bail at this stage".
With these observations, the high court dismissed Siddique’s bail plea and directed the trial court to expedite proceedings under Section 346 of the BNSS and Section 309 of the CrPC.
Case Title: Ansar Ahmad Siddique vs. State of UP
Download order here