{
  "id": 12791726,
  "title": "‘No deliberate malice’: Gujarat High Court quashes FIR over Buddha image on sarees",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/no-deliberate-malice-gujarat-high-court-quashes-fir-over-buddha-image",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T04:54:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/no-deliberate-malice-gujarat-high-court-fir-buddha-image-saree-10911847/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Gujarat High Court has dismissed charges against a Surat textile trader who was facing an FIR over sarees featuring images of Gautam Buddha. The court ruled that merely selling such items does not amount to a crime of deliberately and maliciously offending religious feelings. The court stated that for an offense under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, there must be a deliberate and malicious intention to outrage religious sentiments, not just an objectionable depiction. The businessman, Bharatbhai Hirjibhai Shankar, denied any intent to hurt religious sentiments and argued that he was simply following market trends and designs. The court dismissed the FIR, noting that it would be inappropriate to expand criminal law to penalize commercial practices without criminal intent.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Gujarat High Court dismisses FIR against Surat textile trader.",
    "Selling Buddha image sarees not criminal offense alone.",
    "Court requires deliberate, malicious intent to violate Section 295A."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The court's ruling sets a precedent that commercial practices without malicious intent cannot be penalized under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, protecting businesses from potentially expansive religious offense charges.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/high-court-sets-aside-taus-decision-to-gazette-legal-sector-bee-code",
        "published": "2026-10-08T02:00:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Peshawar High Court rejects Afridi’s plea challenging ECP proceedings",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/peshawar-high-court-rejects-afridis-plea-challenging-ecp-proceedings",
        "published": "2026-10-08T03:52:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "WA's oil and gas industry watches impact of High Court ruling closely",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/was-oil-and-gas-industry-watches-impact-of-high-court-ruling-closely",
        "published": "2026-10-08T04:32:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Churidar or saree? Society can’t dictate what a citizen should wear, says Kerala High Court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/churidar-or-saree-society-cant-dictate-what-a-citizen-should-wear",
        "published": "2026-10-08T06:28:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}