Punjab & Haryana High Court Dismisses Plea Against Aaj Tak, Anjana Om Kashyap Over Valmiki Remarks
Court upholds journalistic freedom while noting historical debate around ancient sage’s past, references 2008 judgment on lack of evidence for “dacoit” narrative
Chandigarh, January 19, 2026 – The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition seeking action against Aaj Tak anchor Anjana Om Kashyap and the India Today Group over alleged derogatory remarks about Maharishi Valmiki made during a television program in October 2025.
The case stemmed from an FIR filed by the Bharatiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj (BHAVADHAS) following comments made by Kashyap during her show “Black and White” on October 7, 2025. The complaint alleged that the journalist had used insulting language while discussing the ancient sage during a debate about a recent incident involving the Chief Justice of India.
According to the FIR filed in Ludhiana, Kashyap had referenced a widely circulated story about Valmiki’s transformation from a person named Ratnakar who allegedly engaged in robbery to becoming the revered author of the Ramayana after meeting Narad Muni. The Valmiki community organization claimed these remarks were “deeply insulting” and hurt religious sentiments.
In its judgment, the High Court reportedly referenced its own 2008 ruling which acknowledged that there was no credible historical evidence to support claims that Maharishi Valmiki had ever been a dacoit. The earlier judgment had noted that from Vedic literature up to the 9th century AD, there existed no such reference to Valmiki leading the life of a dacoit or highwayman.
Legal experts note that the court’s decision aligns with a 2024 precedent when the same High Court quashed an FIR against a 65-year-old Jalandhar resident who had been arrested for making similar references to Valmiki. In that case, Justice Pankaj Jain had observed that revered figures across faiths were “born as humans who attained divinity through their deeds,” and that the journey from ordinary human to divine status is embedded in India’s cultural ethos.
The India Today Group had consistently maintained throughout the proceedings that the program was conducted with complete respect for all faiths and communities, and that “selectively edited and misleading clips” circulating on social media had distorted the content and intent of the broadcast.
The case had drawn significant attention as it raised questions about the balance between freedom of expression, journalistic responsibility, and religious sensitivities. The Valmiki community, recognized as a Scheduled Caste, has historically been vigilant about protecting the honor and dignity of their revered saint.
Research by scholars including Dr. Manjula Sahdev has indicated that early Indian literature contains no references to Valmiki as a bandit before the 6th century, suggesting that the transformation narrative may have emerged in later folklore, particularly in the 1585 devotional text Bhaktamal by poet Nabhadas, as a symbolic story about moral transformation rather than historical fact.
The High Court’s dismissal of the petition represents a significant development in ongoing debates about how historical and religious figures are portrayed in public discourse, and the extent to which legal mechanisms should be used to address perceived insults to community sentiments.
Neither Anjana Om Kashyap nor representatives from the India Today Group were immediately available for comment following the court’s decision.
