Folk artist Neha Singh Rathore stepped into the spotlight again, voluntarily reporting to Hazratganj police station in Lucknow today as per Supreme Court instructions. With her arrest temporarily blocked, the singer affirmed her willingness to aid the inquiry into FIRs triggered by her provocative online content.
‘I am following the Supreme Court’s directive to present myself at 11 AM today. Full cooperation with the investigation is my duty,’ Rathore told reporters upon arrival.
The saga began after the brutal Pahalgam terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir, infamous for religion-based executions of tourists. Rathore’s subsequent social media activity, including the viral song ‘Chaukidaru Kayar Ba’ from May 2025, drew ire for its purported attacks on the BJP-led administration.
FIRs proliferated: 318 at Varanasi’s Lanka station alone, surpassing 500 in total. Authorities claim her posts threatened India’s unity and fueled communal tensions, with evidence of their propagation in Pakistan for anti-India propaganda.
Hazratganj police registered the key FIR. Rathore’s prior bid for relief at Allahabad High Court failed when anticipatory bail was denied on December 5, 2025, prompting summons. The apex court stepped in on January 8, balancing restraint on arrest with probe participation.
This appearance marks a pivotal moment, highlighting tensions between artistic expression and sedition allegations in India’s polarized discourse. Observers await further legal maneuvers as the nation watches closely.