PUCL condemns ‘harassment’, ‘malicious FIR’ against human rights activist Nadeem Khan
Bengaluru: The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has condemned the targeted harassment of human rights activist Nadeem Khan, the National General Secretary of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), following a "malicious FIR" filed by the Delhi Police. In a statement, PUCL expressed concern over the police's attempts to detain Khan in Bengaluru without any legal warrant or due process.
“PUCL is shocked at the manner in which Delhi Police is conducting a targeted witch-hunt and harassment of human rights activist Nadeem Khan, at the instigation of a few social media accounts on Twitter,” the organisation said. At approximately 5 PM on 30th November 2024, four police personnel, including the Station House Officer (SHO) of Shaheen Bagh Police Station, arrived at a private residence in Bengaluru where Khan was staying. The police attempted to detain Khan “without any warrant or notice.” The officers, who arrived in a "hot haste" without issuing a notice under Section 35(3) or having any authority to arrest, coerced Khan into accompanying them "voluntarily" for an investigation related to an FIR filed earlier that afternoon in Delhi (FIR No. 0280/2024, Shaheen Bagh Police Station).
PUCL further explained, “From 5pm till 9pm, they sat in the hall of the first floor of the house and coerced Nadeem to come to Delhi 'voluntarily' with them under 'informal custody'. It wasn’t until 10:45 PM, after 5.45 hours of badgering Nadeem, that the officials pasted a notice under Section 35(3) of BNSS, asking him to appear at the Shaheen Bagh Police Station.” Despite the minor charges listed in the FIR, including Section 196, 353(2), and 61 (punishable by less than three years), PUCL noted that the law prohibits an arrest under such circumstances, citing the Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar judgment. Despite this, the police persisted with their harassment and intimidation.
PUCL also described the events surrounding the APCR office on 29th November 2024, when 20-25 police officers arrived without providing any legal justification or FIR copy. “The fact that 20 police officials came to the APCR office even before the FIR shows their malicious intent,” PUCL stated. The organisation further condemned the police’s actions and their disregard for due process, calling this a clear attempt to criminalise the exercise of free speech and the advocacy of civil liberties and constitutional rights.
PUCL has demanded that the FIR against Khan be immediately quashed, that the harassment of his family cease, and that compensation be provided for the undue distress. The PUCL also called for an FIR to be filed against the SHO of Shaheen Bagh Police Station for criminal intimidation, trespassing, and harassment.
PUCL Condemns Harassment of and Malicious FIR against human rights activist Nadeem Khan of the APCR by Delhi Police.
— Kavita Srivastava (@kavisriv) November 30, 2024
Demands FIR quashing, Compensation, FIR against the SHO of Shaheen Bagh Police station for criminal intimidation, harassment, trespassing be lodged. pic.twitter.com/zVnJDL2p5O
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Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
