Folk singer Neha Singh Rathore questioned by Lucknow police over Pahalgam attack remarks

Folk singer Neha Singh Rathore on Saturday appeared before the police at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow for questioning in connection with a case registered over her controversial social media comments following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

Rathore was summoned by the investigating officer to record her statement as part of the probe into an FIR lodged on April 27 . The case relates to a song and accompanying social media posts in which she allegedly made remarks critical of the Union government’s handling of the attack. Police said the comments were being examined for allegedly promoting disharmony and making unsubstantiated, anti-national claims.

The singer’s appearance comes after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court rejected her anticipatory bail plea , observing that the content shared by her required investigation due to its nature and the sensitive context in which it was released. The court noted that her remarks allegedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Bharatiya Janata Party , and could not be brushed aside at the preliminary stage.

The controversy centres on a politically charged folk song released by Rathore after the Pahalgam attack, in which she questioned the government’s response to the killings and raised pointed political criticism. The lyrics of the song, written by Rathore herself , were widely circulated on social media and drew sharp reactions from supporters and critics alike.

Explaining the delay in her appearance, Rathore’s husband said the couple had received an earlier notice but sought time due to her ill health. After a second notice was served, they decided to appear before the police.

Senior police officials dismissed rumours of Rathore’s arrest, clarifying that she was called only to record her statement and that the questioning was part of routine investigative procedure.