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Surat: A court in Gujarat’s Surat has ordered the registration of a criminal case against filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap over alleged objectionable social media posts linked to the release of the film Phule. The court has also issued a non-bailable warrant against him after he allegedly failed to respond to repeated summons.

The complaint, filed by lawyer and Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Kamlesh Raval, alleged that Kashyap’s posts on social media defamed the Brahmin community and could promote enmity between communities.

The case was partly allowed by Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) A.S. Jani in Surat.

Complaint linked to social media posts after ‘Phule’

According to the complaint, the controversy began after protests emerged online against the trailer of the film Phule, directed by Anant Mahadevan.

Kashyap allegedly posted comments on social media platform X on April 16, 2025, reacting to criticism surrounding the film. The complainant claimed that the posts went viral and contained objectionable remarks against the Brahmin community.

The court observed that the social media posts could potentially disturb communal harmony and therefore permitted criminal proceedings against the filmmaker.

The complaint also referred to earlier social media remarks allegedly made by Kashyap in 2020 and 2022, which the complainant claimed were offensive towards Hindus and certain communities.

Court allows criminal charges under BNS

The Surat court directed police to register a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The charges include Section 196 relating to promoting enmity between different groups, Section 352 for intentional insult intended to provoke breach of peace, and Section 353(2) concerning circulation of false information.

The complainant argued before the court that Kashyap’s posts were inflammatory and capable of creating social tensions.

According to reports, the court accepted parts of the complaint after examining the allegations and supporting material submitted by the complainant.

Non-bailable warrant issued

The complainant further stated that several summons had earlier been issued to Kashyap but he allegedly failed to appear before the court or respond to notices.

Following this, the Surat court issued a non-bailable warrant against the filmmaker.

Neither Kashyap nor his legal representatives had publicly responded to the court order at the time of reporting.

The development has triggered fresh debate online regarding freedom of expression, social media accountability and the increasing number of legal cases involving public personalities over controversial statements.

About the film ‘Phule’

The film Phule is a Hindi-language biographical drama based on the lives of social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule.

The movie stars Pratik Gandhi as Jyotirao Phule and Patralekha as Savitribai Phule.

Originally scheduled for release on April 11, 2025, the film was later postponed and released on April 25, 2025.

The ensemble cast also includes Vinay Pathak, Joy Sengupta, Darsheel Safary and several others.

The film portrays the contributions of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule towards women’s education and social equality in India. The reformers had opened the first school for girls in Pune in 1848 and founded the Satyashodhak Samaj to advocate equal rights for marginalised communities.

Debate over social media and public discourse

The case against Kashyap has once again brought attention to the legal consequences of social media posts made by celebrities and public figures.

Legal experts note that courts increasingly examine whether online statements can disturb public order or incite tensions between communities.

At the same time, free speech advocates argue that artistic and political opinions expressed online should be protected unless they directly incite violence or hatred.

The matter is expected to proceed further before the Surat court in the coming weeks.