Bombay HC Refuses to Quash FIR Against Pune Teacher Over ‘Operation Sindoor’ WhatsApp Posts
Mumbai/Pune, 30th July 2025: The Bombay High Court has rejected a plea to quash an FIR against Farah Deeba, a Pune-based schoolteacher accused of posting offensive content in a WhatsApp group of 380 women from her residential society. The bench observed that the matter warrants a full investigation due to the serious nature of the allegations.
The controversy erupted on May 7, shortly after the Indian Army conducted ‘Operation Sindoor’. While group members shared patriotic messages, Deeba allegedly responded with sarcasm, stating, “We have TV and mobiles, so this group does not need to become a national news channel,” followed by a laughing emoji. She later posted provocative videos and reportedly mentioned her familial ties to Pakistan, which intensified tensions.
A formal complaint was lodged by group member Sheetal Bhujbal, who alleged that Deeba’s comments and actions disrupted communal harmony and deeply offended many participants in the group.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was filed on May 15 at the Kalepadal Police Station against 46-year-old Farah Deeba. The contents of the FIR included serious accusations, such as Deeba sharing videos showing the national flag being burnt and mocking the Prime Minister.
In her defense, Deeba claimed that she was under emotional distress at the time and deleted the messages after realizing their potential impact. However, the court remained unconvinced. “Despite the apology, the damage was already done,” observed Justices Ajey Gadkari and Rajesh Patil.
The court further criticized Deeba’s misuse of social media, stressing that her role as a teacher with a postgraduate degree in English and a B.Ed. demanded greater responsibility. “Such behavior by an educated person is not only inappropriate but dangerous,” the court remarked.
