'Tails Catch Fire': Court Reserves Order on CM Rekha Gupta's Remarks
A Delhi court has reserved its order on a complaint against CM Rekha Gupta for her controversial remarks comparing officials to Lord Hanuman.
The Rouse Avenue Court has reserved its order regarding a complaint filed against Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The legal battle centers on controversial remarks the CM allegedly made about government officials during a public event in September 2025, which have sparked a debate over the nature of her criticism.
The 'Hanuman' Comparison
The controversy stems from a government program held on September 23, 2025, at the Kashmiri Gate ISBT, where the Delhi-Baraut interstate AC bus service of the DTC was being launched. While addressing the public and government staff, CM Rekha Gupta allegedly used a vivid religious analogy to describe the work ethic of her administration's officials.
According to the complainant, Ram Niwas Sharma, the Chief Minister stated: “Our Delhi government officials are all like Hanuman. These Hanumans work hard when their tails catch fire. Before that, they forget.”
The Legal Battle and Police Stance
The complainant has approached the court seeking a direction for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the CM, arguing that the statements were made in a public forum during an official function and were heard by numerous attendees and officials.
However, the Delhi Police have already weighed in on the matter. In a status report filed on October 15, the police gave a clean chit to CM Rekha Gupta, concluding that no cognizable offence had been committed through her remarks.
Key Procedural Details:
- The Court: Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwani Panwar presided over the hearing.
- Legal Framework: The case is being dealt with under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, along with an application under Section 175(3) of the BNSS.
- Evidence: The police report included a transcript of the speech delivered on September 23, 2025, supported by a certificate under section 63(4)(c) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA).
What Happens Next?
After hearing the arguments presented by Advocate Sanjeet Kumar, representing the complainant, the court took the written submissions and a list of relevant judgments on record. The court has now reserved its decision on whether to proceed with the complaint despite the police's findings.
The final order is scheduled to be pronounced on November 6.