CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered the quashing of a case pending before a judicial magistrate court in Gudalur against 14 persons in connection with a protest against Israel over the genocide in Palestine.
The police had registered an FIR for unlawful assembly and raising slogans in support of the Palestinian people during the protest held on October 5, 2025, at Gudalur (Nilgiris district). The judicial magistrate court took cognisance of the case filed under sections 189 (2) (unlawful assembly) and 126 (2) (wrongful restraint) of BNS.
Praying for quashing the case, the protesters, including P P Mohamed, filed the petition in the high court.
The counsel for the petitioners submitted that they had not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution, while the government counsel (criminal side) stated that the investigation was almost over and the final report was filed in the court; and so, the case should not be quashed.
Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan, in a recent order, allowed the petitions and ordered to quash the pending case.
Explaining the meaning of unlawful assembly, he said only when the assembly fits into any of the circumstances as stated in the Act, it could be construed as unlawful.
“The accused had not shown any criminal force to commit any mischief, crime or any offence, or by way of criminal force or tried to take possession of the property or … incorporeal rights … of others,” he said in the order.
That apart, the judge added, there are also no ingredients in the charge sheet to attract the offence under Section 126 (2) (wrongful restraint) of BNS.
