Zero FIR against Noida woman over PM Modi remarks: Is abusive language punishable under Indian law?

On July 29, the Noida Police registered a zero First Information Report (FIR) against 25-year-old Ruchika Singh , a resident of Lotus Zing Society in Sector 168, over remarks she allegedly made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on July 23. The case was filed at the Expressway police station on a complaint by Smriti Singh, a Supreme Court advocate and resident of Vasundhara in Ghaziabad, who said she came across a video of the incident and found the language used objectionable. The FIR invokes Sections 352, 353(1) and 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering intentional insult, public mischief and defamation. Since the alleged incident occurred in Delhi, the case has been transferred to Delhi Police for further investigation.