On May 2, 2025, the Allahabad High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into remarks made by Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, concerning the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, mostly non-Muslim tourists.

The PIL was filed by the Hindu Front for Justice, alleging that Vadra’s comments—suggesting that terrorists targeted non-Muslims in Pahalgam because they believed Muslims were being “mistreated” in India—were provocative and created an atmosphere of fear and unrest among the Hindu community. The petitioners contended that Vadra’s statements amounted to “hate speech” and sought legal action against him under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India’s new criminal law code.

However, the bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Om Prakash Shukla disposed of the PIL, advising the petitioner to pursue alternative legal remedies, such as filing a First Information Report (FIR) or a criminal complaint, if they believed an offense had occurred.

In response to the controversy, Vadra clarified that his remarks were misinterpreted and emphasized that his intentions were not to incite division but to highlight concerns about the treatment of Muslims in the country.

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