Police have registered an FIR against former MLA Rajinder Rana at the Sujanpur police station in Hamirpur district. The case was filed on Friday evening over comments Rana made against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Congress government.
The FIR was lodged under Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nayay Sanhita. According to the charges, Rana is accused of spreading public mischief, circulating false rumours or inflammatory news, and making statements or electronic posts that could incite hatred or unrest in society.
What triggered the FIR against Rajinder Rana
The case stems from remarks Rana made during a press conference a few days ago. In that press conference, the former MLA levelled several charges against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the state's Congress government.
Rana questioned the sharp rise in the construction cost of a bus stand in Hamirpur. He pointed out that the cost had escalated from Rs 36 crore to over Rs 100 crore and alleged that rules were violated in the process. He also raised questions about the establishment of a winery in Italy at a cost of Rs 150 crore.
Charges covered in the FIR at Sujanpur police station
The FIR includes multiple charges related to Rana's public statements. The police have registered the case under Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nayay Sanhita, which covers offences related to public mischief and inflammatory communication.
- Spreading public mischief through statements
- Circulating false rumours or inflammatory news
- Making statements or electronic posts to incite hatred or unrest in society
The case was registered at the Sujanpur police station in Hamirpur district, which is the constituency Rana previously represented as an MLA.
Our Take: Free speech and accountability in political criticism
To put it plainly, this case raises important questions about where political criticism ends and legal action begins. Rana made specific allegations about public spending — a bus stand that reportedly tripled in cost and a winery project in Italy. These are serious claims that deserve scrutiny.
At the same time, the FIR charges him with spreading false rumours and inciting unrest. That is a heavy accusation. In our view, the public interest is best served when such allegations are examined on their merits — whether the numbers Rana cited are accurate and whether rules were actually violated. If the allegations are true, they point to real governance problems. If they are false, there are legal remedies available.
What matters most is that the process remains transparent. Voters in Hamirpur and across Himachal Pradesh deserve to know the facts behind these cost escalations, regardless of how the legal case unfolds.