Charges Framed Against Congress MP Imran Masood Over 'Boti-Boti' Remarks Against PM Modi, May Lose Lok Sabha Membership

Charges have been formally framed against Congress MP from Saharanpur, Imran Masood, in a special court for allegedly making objectionable comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 'boti-boti' comment, made in 2014 during an election rally in Labkari village, when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) PM candidate, threatened to cut Modi into pieces.

Government advocate Gulab Singh stated on Wednesday that the charges were framed on Tuesday before Judge Mohit Sharma of the special MP-MLA court, which handles cases involving legislators.

The case was originally filed on 27 March 2014, by Kusum Veer Singh, the then in-charge of the Kotwali police station in Deoband. Masood also allegedly made offensive comments about two leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Though Masood joined the BSP in 2023, he rejoined Congress later the same year. The former Muzaffarabada MLA went on to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Saharanpur.

If Masood is convicted under the charges and is sentenced to more than two years of jail, he will lose his Lok Sabha membership as per the criteria for disqualification in the Representation of People Act.

Aaj Tak reported that there are provisions of five to seven years of jail for the charges that have been framed against Masood. If convicted, it will also be a jolt for Congress, which won six seats in Uttar Pradesh after many years.