MP HC Grants Bail To College Lecturer Arrested For WhatsApp Messages Allegedly Hurting Religious Sentiments [Read Order]

Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to Dr. Nasheem Bano, a college lecturer arrested for allegedly circulating WhatsApp messages and videos claimed to outrage the religious feelings of a community.

Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh delivered the judgment, emphasizing that while educated individuals holding academic positions have a greater responsibility, they cannot be indefinitely detained merely for forwarding messages.

The court was hearing Misc. Criminal Case No. 20228 of 2025, filed by Dr. Nasheem Bano seeking regular bail under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The court noted:
“This is the first bail application filed by the applicant under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking regular bail in connection with FIR/Crime No. 275/2025 registered at Police Station Dindori, District Dindori (M.P.), for offences punishable under Sections 196, 299, and 353(2) of the B.N.S., 2023.”

Addressing the allegations, the court observed:
“As per the prosecution’s case, the complainant, Deependra Jogi, lodged a report at Police Station Dindori alleging that the applicant, who is working as Guest Faculty at Government Model College, Dindori, had circulated certain posts in her WhatsApp group intended to outrage the religious feelings of another community, and had also shared a video titled ‘Naya Ravan’.”

The court highlighted the applicant’s academic status, stating:
“Prima facie, it can be safely said that educated persons holding posts such as Guest Faculty in a college have a greater responsibility while forwarding WhatsApp messages.”

Commenting on the issue of prolonged detention, the court observed:
“But merely on the ground of forwarding messages or videos that may hurt the religious sentiments of a community, a person cannot be kept in jail indefinitely. The applicant has been in custody since 28.04.2025.”

The court also took note of the applicant’s clean criminal record, stating:
“The Government Advocate very fairly submitted that no other criminal case is registered against the applicant.”

Granting bail, the court held:
“Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court deems it appropriate to enlarge the applicant on bail. Therefore, without commenting on the merits of the case, the bail application is allowed.”

The court directed that:
“The applicant, Dr. Nasheem Bano, shall be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond in the sum of ₹50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only), along with one solvent surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court concerned.”

Standard bail conditions under Section 480(3) of the B.N.S.S. were also imposed, including compliance with bond terms, refraining from committing similar offences, and not tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses.

Shri Manish Datt, Senior Advocate, assisted by Shri Eshaan Datt, Advocate, appeared for the applicant, while Shri Ravindra Shukla, Government Advocate, represented the State.

Case Title: Dr. Nasheem Bano vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh

[Read Order]