The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea filed by Left party leaders seeking action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a controversial video clip showing him firing a rifle, which has triggered sharp political and legal reactions.
The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, which said it would examine the petition and consider listing it for hearing. The plea has been moved by leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the CPI(M), who have alleged that the video amounts to hate speech and poses a threat to communal harmony.
During the brief hearing, counsel for the petitioners submitted that despite complaints being filed with the police, no FIR has been registered in connection with the video. They urged the apex court to intervene and direct appropriate legal action, arguing that the content was inflammatory and unbecoming of a constitutional authority.
Responding to the submissions, the Chief Justice observed that with elections approaching, political battles are increasingly being fought in courts, cautioning against turning the judiciary into a forum for political contests. However, the bench agreed to consider the plea.
The controversy centres on a video posted on the Assam BJP’s official social media handle, which was later deleted following public backlash. The clip allegedly showed the chief minister aiming and firing a rifle at two figures portrayed in a manner critics say alluded to a particular community. Opposition parties and civil rights groups condemned the video as provocative and divisive.
The issue has also sparked parallel legal and political reactions. AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has filed a police complaint accusing the chief minister of promoting hatred, while Congress leaders have demanded criminal action and an independent probe.
Reacting earlier, CM Sarma said he was ready to face legal scrutiny and denied personal responsibility for the posting of the video, asserting that he had no role in its circulation.
The Supreme Court has not yet fixed a date for a detailed hearing. Its decision to take cognisance of the plea marks a significant development in a controversy that has intensified political tensions in Assam ahead of the elections and renewed debate over the limits of political speech and social media conduct by public officials.
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