Mother thanks PM Modi for forgiveness; lawyer disputes FIR as minor's identity questioned

The young woman at the centre of the controversy over abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Jantar Mantar on 23 July thanked the Prime Minister on Friday for forgiving her, while her lawyer said she is a minor whose name does not match the FIR and vowed to have the case quashed.

Speaking to ABP Live on her birthday, the woman said she had gone to Connaught Place with a friend to shop for clothes when YouTubers and others present there asked her to speak on camera. She used objectionable language, she said, and apologised the next day of her own volition.

“I did not know the matter would become so big. I am deeply ashamed. I made a very big mistake, and I did not apologise under anyone's pressure. I apologised from my heart,” she said.

The woman, who claims to be a minor studying through a freelance mode, said she has been receiving continuous threats and that people have been reaching her house. “I am very scared. I am receiving threats. No one forced me to apologise,” she said.

Her mother thanked Modi for his forgiveness, calling it “the biggest birthday gift she could have received.” The mother, who said she does not use social media and was unaware of the seriousness of the controversy, appealed to the administration to provide a secure place for her family. “My appeal is that children of a young age should be kept away from social media,” she added.

Lawyer disputes FIR, claims minor identity mismatch

The woman's lawyer, Anil Kumar, told ABP Live that the FIR names her as “Ruchika Singh” but that is not her name, and she is a minor who does not work at any parlour as implied in some reports.

“In my opinion, proper verification was not carried out before the FIR was registered. We will have it quashed,” Kumar said.

The Zero FIR was registered at Noida's Expressway Police Station on 30 July under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation), based on a complaint by Ghaziabad resident Smriti Singh. The case has been transferred to Parliament Street Police Station in Delhi.

CJP alleges selective enforcement, “two laws”

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke released a video on X on Friday questioning whether India operates under “two laws” — one for youth and another for BJP leaders and IT cell members. Dipke argued that abusive language is not a criminal offence and demanded to know why cases have not been registered against BJP IT cell members who, he alleged, have abused women online for years while displaying “Followed by PM Modi” in their bios.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das told Outlook India: “Since when has using abusive language become a criminal offense in this country? Fifty per cent of parliamentarians face criminal charges yet escape action.” Das said profanity that does not incite violence is “just speech” and the remedy for speech is more speech.

The party also cited past remarks by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, asking why similar legal action was not taken in those cases.

Modi’s forgiveness video and the unresolved legal track

On 31 July, Prime Minister Modi posted a late-night Instagram video saying “mischievous children” had used vulgar language against him and his late mother during the CJP protest, called it a cultural shock, and urged society to guide rather than punish them.

“Punishing them, dragging them through court proceedings, and harassing them in society, none of this will change the situation. I want to forgive them. Society, too, should accept this,” Modi said.

Dipke responded by asking whether the forgiveness would extend beyond the “reel” to withdrawal of the FIRs. The Zero FIR against the woman and a separate Delhi Police Special Cell case on abusive social-media posts remain active. No official withdrawal has been announced.

What we can verify

• The young woman apologised on camera to ABP Live on 1 August, saying she was prompted by YouTubers at Connaught Place, realised her mistake, and apologised without pressure. — ABP Live
• Her mother thanked PM Modi for his forgiveness and appealed for young children to be kept off social media. — ABP Live
• Her lawyer, Anil Kumar, claims she is a minor, not named Ruchika Singh, and vowed to seek quashing of the FIR. — ABP Live
• Noida Police registered a Zero FIR on 30 July under BNS 352, 353(1) and 356(1); the case has been transferred to Delhi Police. — Outlook India; The Indian Express (earlier report)
• PM Modi posted a video on 31 July forgiving the youth who abused him at Jantar Mantar. — The Indian Express; The New Indian Express; ABP Live
• CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke questioned “two laws” and alleged selective enforcement against BJP IT cell members. — English Gujarat Samachar; Outlook India
• CJP spokesperson Saurav Das argued profanity is not a criminal offence unless it incites violence. — Outlook India

What remains unverified

• Whether the woman is legally a minor; age has not been independently confirmed against official documents. — [unverified]
• Whether the FIR name “Ruchika Singh” is incorrect; the lawyer’s claim has not been corroborated by police or court records. — [unverified]
• Whether any ministry or police authority has ordered withdrawal of the FIR after Modi’s forgiveness video; none has been announced. — [unverified]
• Dipke’s allegation that BJP IT cell members are the principal abusers of women online and that specific accounts display “Followed by PM Modi” is his allegation; no independent platform audit or police confirmation is available. — [unverified]
• Whether the woman’s claim of receiving threats and people reaching her house has been reported to or acted upon by police. — [unverified]

Context

The Jantar Mantar sit-in ended on 25 July after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the NEET paper-leak row. Cases over abusive slogans, social-media posts, and the 20 July “Sansad Chalo” clashes continue in parallel with state-level FIR withdrawals for some student protesters. The woman’s apology, her mother’s gratitude, and the lawyer’s challenge add a human-rights dimension to the legal track that Dipke’s “reel-or-cases” question has kept in public view.

All unverified claims are marked per CJP News truth-only policy. Updates will be added as independent confirmation arrives.