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The Rajasthan High Court has stayed the arrest of a man booked for forwarding a WhatsApp message that read, “in Udaipur religious war has started, bravo finish the pigs”.

Counsel for accused Vikram Singh, an advocate's clerk, argued before Court that aforesaid message was a “forwarded” message and by mistake, it was sent to a group of advocates' clerks. He informed the Court that soon after forwarding the message, Singh deleted it. 

A First Information Report was registered on information of one Nadim Kadir for offences punishable under Sections 295A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code. Praying the court to quash the same, Singh argued that nothing happened due to the aforesaid WhatsApp message, hence the offences alleged were not made out against him.

Issuing notice to informant Nadim Kadir and State authorities, the bench of Justice Birendra Kumar granted interim protection from arrest to Singh. "In the meantime, petitioner shall not be arrested in the aforesaid FIR till further order with condition that petitioner shall fully cooperate with the investigation of the case," Court ordered.

Moreover, Court directed the State- respondents to ensure protection to the life and liberty of Singh and his family."...which cannot be at stake otherwise than due procedure established by law," Court emphasized.

Case Title: Vikram Singh v. State of Rajasthan