The Bengaluru City Police has registered an FIR against the Karnataka unit of the BJP’s IT and Social Media cell over a controversial post allegedly linking Rahul Gandhi to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

The FIR, lodged at the High Grounds police station, invokes Sections 196 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023—India’s newly revised criminal code. These sections deal with promoting enmity among groups and spreading public misinformation, respectively.

According to the complaint, the BJP IT Cell shared a social media post implying that Rahul Gandhi’s overseas visits coincide with major disruptive events in India. The post featured Gandhi’s photo with a caption insinuating that “sinister” incidents follow his foreign trips. Congress leaders allege this was a deliberate attempt to malign Gandhi and deflect from the BJP’s accountability in national security lapses.

CM Dhananjaya, Congress spokesperson and head of its legal wing, condemned the post, warning that it could “divide society” and “must be tackled sternly.” He accused the BJP of trying to escape blame and smear the image of the Leader of Opposition.

Police have stated that they will serve notices to the individuals involved for questioning.

Rahul Gandhi, who cut short his US tour following the attack, returned to Delhi early Thursday. He plans to visit injured victims in Anantnag on Friday.

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