Sedition charges were filed on Monday against Dr. Madri Kakoti, an assistant professor at Lucknow University, following a post she made about the recent Pahalgam attack. Dr. Kakoti, a popular social media commentator known by her handle Dr. Medusa, faced the charges after a complaint was filed by ABVP leader Jatin Shukla. The complaint accused Dr. Kakoti of repeatedly targeting India’s unity and sovereignty through her posts on X (formerly Twitter). Shukla alleged that some of her remarks, including the term “saffron terrorists,” were being circulated by Pakistani media, further stoking outrage.
In the video that triggered the controversy, Dr. Kakoti, known for her satirical takes on government policies and societal issues, stated that religious profiling before killing someone is a form of terrorism. She also mentioned various discriminatory acts such as religiously motivated lynching, job sackings, denying accommodation to certain communities, and demolishing homes—all of which she equated to terrorism.
Dr. Kakoti’s comments have ignited protests from students at Lucknow University, who demand the university take action against her. The university issued her a show-cause notice, requiring a written explanation within five days and warning of potential disciplinary measures. This followed ABVP-led protests on campus, where students organized sloganeering and submitted a memorandum to the university’s vice-chancellor, calling for strict action.
Dr. Kakoti, who has 150,000 followers on X, defended her remarks, stating, “What I said is a fact and 100% correct. There is nothing wrong in this statement. It is a general one, listing crimes which fall within the definition of causing ‘terror.’ I can’t really take any responsibility for someone thinking it is about them.”
The FIR registered against Dr. Kakoti includes charges of sedition, promoting enmity, hurting religious sentiments, disturbing public peace, and violating the IT Act.
This is the second sedition case filed recently, as a similar case was registered against folk singer Neha Singh Rathore for her social media posts about the Pahalgam killings.
