Man granted bail after arrest for allegedly outraging religious feelings in Pandhurna
Police in Pandhurna district arrested a man in October 2025 for allegedly outraging religious feelings, charging only BNS section 299. The High Court recorded custody since 8 October 2025. On 12 November 2025 the Court granted bail without deciding the merits.
This page records what the cited court records and reports say happened. Findings belong to the court or authority that made them; this register adds none of its own. Names of private individuals are withheld unless a naming gate clears them.
How we verify →Released on bail; prosecution continues before the trial court.
What happened
The High Court recorded that the applicant was held in connection with a 2025 Pandhurna police case and had been in custody since 8 October 2025.
The High Court recorded that the prosecution's allegation was that he had outraged religious feelings, and that the only offence cited was under BNS section 299.
The order states that the bail application was allowed, with release on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one solvent surety, without any finding on the merits.
No violence, threat, fraud, or other complaining victim is mentioned in the order; the case rests entirely on the alleged speech.
What the record says
“As per the prosecution story, allegation against the applicant is of outraging the religious feelings of Hindu religion.”
MCRC No. 48650 of 2025, Madhya Pradesh High Court order dated 12 November 2025 — read the full text
Punished for a freedom
The state jailed a person solely for alleged speech about religion, with no victim of violence, fraud or coercion named. Punishing hurt-feelings speech chills basic expression.
What we could not confirm
Incident date and exact words of the alleged speech are not given in the order. Bench location and judge name could not be confirmed from the excerpt.