NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has directed the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against journalist and author Rana Ayyub over a plea alleging that she made derogatory posts on X (formerly Twitter) in 2016-17. The complaint claims that Ayyubโs posts insulted Hindu deities, spread anti-India sentiment, and incited religious disharmony.
The court ruled that the plea disclosed the commission of cognisable offences and instructed the police to investigate the matter fairly. This legal order has reignited discussions about the limits of freedom of expression and the role of journalists in a politically charged environment.
Rana Ayyubโs Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover-Up exposes the political cover-up surrounding the 2002 Gujarat riots. Posing as Maithili Tyagi, a filmmaker with alleged RSS affiliations, Ayyub gained access to key officials, including then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi, secretly recording conversations.
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The investigation carried out in 2010-2011 for Tehelka, revealed the complicity of high-ranking officials in the aftermath of the riots. Though the investigation was halted in 2011, Ayyubโs findings form the core of her self-published book.
However, Ayyub has faced significant legal and professional challenges due to her journalistic work. In 2019, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea to examine tapes from her investigation as evidence in the Haren Pandya murder case, questioning the bookโs political motivations.
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Moreover, Ayyub has been criticized for not releasing the tapes publicly, though she offered them to investigating agencies if needed. Rana Ayyubโs career has also seen her working internationally as a global opinion writer for The Washington Post, where she contributes to articles on political and social issues in India.
Recently, her work has drawn legal challenges, as evidenced by the FIR filed in Ghaziabad. The complaint alleges that Ayyubโs remarks during a live social media broadcast incited hatred and threatened communal harmony.
Her legal team is expected to challenge the FIR, and the case has sparked discussions about the balance between freedom of expression and responsible journalism. Ayyubโs activism, criticism of the government, and advocacy for press freedom continue despite facing surveillance, harassment, and threats.
As of January 2025, she remains an influential journalist committed to shedding light on critical social and political issues.
