Man in Kota detained for threatening Rahul Gandhi and other Congress MPs

A man has been detained in Rajasthan’s Kota after a video surfaced in which he threatened to “shoot” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 25 other opposition MPs, police said on Thursday.

The accused, Raj Singh , claimed in the video to be a spokesperson of the right‑wing group Karni Sena . He alleged that BJP and Karni Sena supporters were angered by what he described as the “verbal abuse” of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by Congress MPs during the recent Budget session. “Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully… if such an incident occurs again, we will barge into your home and shoot you,” Singh warned, adding that MPs “will be shot one by one” if action was not taken within 24 hours.

Singh has been detained at Borkheda police station and several FIRs have been registered against him. He may face charges under Sections 503 and 506 of the IPC for criminal intimidation, which carry penalties of up to seven years. Investigators are also examining provisions under the Information Technology Act , given that the threats were shared online. Police are tracing the social media account and working with the platform to preserve evidence.

The BJP and Karni Sena have distanced themselves from Singh, stating he had no organisational ties. Congress condemned the threats, with party leaders calling them a worrying sign of rising radicalisation and urging additional security for lawmakers.

Public reaction has been mixed, with most condemning the threats while some online users amplified political narratives. Police are also probing whether Singh acted alone or had accomplices, examining mobile data and digital footprints.

Superintendent of Police Tejaswani Gautam said the investigation will proceed strictly on evidence and that threats against public representatives will be taken seriously under both criminal and cybercrime laws, irrespective of political affiliations.