Man arrested in Moradabad for abusive Instagram comment on pilgrim's posts
A Moradabad man was detained and subsequently produced before the city magistrate after he allegedly posted abusive comments on the Instagram account of a woman who had taken part in the Kanwar Yatra while wearing a burqa, police said on Wednesday.
According to police, the accused, identified as Farman of Behta Sarthal village in Moradabad district, was arrested after the woman, Tamanna Malik, uploaded photographs and videos of her pilgrimage. Malik had travelled to Haridwar with her husband, Aman Tyagi, and later performed jalabhishek at the Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad, officials said.
City Magistrate Sudhir Kumar told reporters that Farman was produced before the magistrate on Tuesday and that he was released on bail after two persons furnished surety. The magistrate said action was taken against Farman under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Accused: Farman, resident of Behta Sarthal village
- Complainant: Tamanna Malik, pilgrim who posted images and videos
- Legal basis: Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police said
- Remand/bail: Produced before city magistrate and released on bail on surety
Police did not provide further procedural or section-wise details in the first official statement. The action reflects an enforcement response to online hostility that local authorities treated as a public-order and peace-related matter.
"[He was] promising not to post or comment on social media again," said a later video in which Farman appeared to apologise to Malik.
Following the initial complaint and the police response, a video circulated on social media in which Farman is seen holding his ears and apologising to Malik. In that clip, he is reported to have promised not to post or comment on social media again, according to police accounts of the video.
Officials emphasised the legal framework used in the case. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provides for offences connected to public tranquillity and communal harmony; local police indicated the matter was investigated under relevant sections that address breach of peace and abusive conduct on social platforms.
This incident underlines heightened public sensitivity around religious processions and the strong scrutiny of social-media posts related to such events in Uttar Pradesh. The Kanwar Yatra — a large annual pilgrimage to bring holy water from the Ganga to local Shiva temples — often attracts wide public attention, and social-media reactions to participants can become flashpoints.
Local law-enforcement officials said they acted after the complainant's post drew the abusive comment to their notice. No further details about any counter-complaint or about whether additional persons were involved were released in the initial police statement.
The case highlights two developing trends for local authorities in Moradabad: enforcement of conduct on digital platforms under existing penal provisions and quick recourse to magistrate courts for prompt judicial oversight. City Magistrate Sudhir Kumar's confirmation of bail on surety follows standard procedure for such matters in the district.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pilgrimage and posts | Tamanna Malik travelled to Haridwar, performed jalabhishek at Dasna Devi and shared photos/videos on Instagram |
| Alleged offence | Abusive comment posted on Malik's Instagram account |
| Police action | Farman detained; case registered under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita |
| Judicial outcome | Produced before City Magistrate Sudhir Kumar; released on bail with two sureties |
Police spokesmen did not provide further information on the exact sections invoked or on a time-frame for any ongoing inquiry. The matter remains under official investigation.
Residents and civic observers in Moradabad said such incidents often prompt debate on online behaviour and the obligations of platform users under law; however, authorities are bound to act on complaints where public order or communal sensitivities are engaged, officials pointed out.
