The Chhattisgarh High Court recently quashed an FIR against two men booked for sharing a Facebook cartoon-styled post on the Governor of the State, after noting that the petitioners had filed an unconditional apology and had undertaken to remove the post as well as never repeat such conduct. 

The petitioners had approached the high court seeking quashing of an FIR wherein they were accused of sharing on their respective Facebook accounts, a cartoon-styled post originally uploaded by co-accused Ankur Ali on 15.04.2026, allegedly concerning the Governor of Chhattisgarh, along with a caption in Assamese.

FIR was lodged under Sections 352(Intentional Insult with Intent to Provoke Breach of Peace), 353(1)(Statements Conducing to Public Mischief) and 353(2) of BNS and Section 66(Computer related offences) of the Information Technology Act.

A division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal in its order said:

"The allegations against the petitioners essentially arise out of sharing/re-publication of a social-media post concerning the Hon'ble Governor of Chhattisgarh. The petitioners have not been alleged to have committed any act of physical violence, nor is there any allegation of any actual incident of violence directly attributable to them. The State, which initially opposed the prayer for quashing on the ground that the investigation was pending, has subsequently, upon consideration of the matter at the governmental level and in view of the willingness expressed by the petitioners to tender an unconditional apology and remove the objectionable material, expressly conveyed its consent for settlement subject to specified conditions. Respondent No.2 has also been heard and has conveyed its consent to bring the proceedings to an end subject to compliance with the stipulated conditions. Thus, the subsequent development has materially altered the circumstances which existed when the petition was initially instituted"

The court also noted that the proposed settlement was not founded merely upon a private compromise between the petitioners and respondent No.2 complainant. It said that the matter has been considered at the governmental level and the State Government itself has conveyed its consent to the settlement, subject to compliance with the conditions incorporated in its earlier communication.

The court noted that the petitioners had tendered their unconditional apology through their additional affidavit and had undertaken to comply with the terms of settlement proposed by the respondents. 

"The conditions requiring an unconditional apology before this Court, publication of the apology before the same audience with due prominence, permanent removal of the objectionable material, an undertaking not to repeat such conduct and publication of the apology in newspapers are intended to address and, to the extent possible, undo the effect of the alleged publication and to safeguard the dignity of the constitutional office which was allegedly affected. In view of such subsequent development and the stand taken by the State, we are of the considered opinion that continuation of the criminal proceedings would not advance any fruitful purpose, particularly when the State itself has agreed to the settlement subject to compliance with the stipulated conditions," the court said. 

The court said that the allegations arise out of publication/re-publication of a social-media post and the petitioners have expressed remorse and tendered an unconditional apology as well as have undertaken to permanently remove the objectionable material and not to repeat such conduct. 

Most importantly, the court said, State Government had itself expressed its consent for settlement subject to compliance with stipulated conditions.

"In such circumstances, insisting upon continuation of the prosecution despite the subsequent settlement would, in our considered  view, not further the cause of justice," the court added.

In view of the same the court quashed the FIR. 

Case title: Shri Pranab Kalita & Anr. v/s State of Chhattisgarh & Anr. 

CRMP No. 1560 of 2026

Click Here To Read/Download Order