Anjana Om Kashyap booked for 'insulting' Lord Valmiki
Journalist Anjana Om Kashyap is facing an FIR in Ludhiana after allegedly making comments about Lord Valmiki during her October 7 TV show that some in the Balmiki community found deeply hurtful.
The complaint, filed by Chaudhary Yashpal of the Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj Bhavadas, claims her words insulted their religious sentiments.
What exactly Kashyap said
On her show Black and White, Kashyap reportedly said that Lord Valmiki was once called Ratnakar and used to loot people before a meeting with Narad Muni changed his life.
While she framed it as a story of personal transformation, the complainant called it baseless and offensive to those who see Valmiki as a divine figure.
The FIR also names India Today chairman Aroon Purie and Living Media India Ltd under new and existing laws protecting religious and community rights.
Similar case in 2022
Debates around how Lord Valmiki is portrayed have sparked legal action before.
In 2022, someone was arrested for calling him a dacoit, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court later dismissed that case, noting that revered figures are often seen as mortals who became divine through their actions.
Still, many in the Balmiki community want such narratives kept out of public debate.