Hindu deity targeted with offensive and inflammatory comments by man on social media
Faridabad, Haryana, India 
17 March, 2026
Case Summary
In Faridabad, Haryana, Hindu religious sentiments were insulted after derogatory and inflammatory content targeting Lord Bajrang Bali Hanuman was disseminated through social media by a man named Harvansh Rai. The matter came to light after a complaint was filed by advocate Ajay Kumar Singh, who stated that the posts shared by the accused, Harvansh Rai, not only insulted his own faith but also hurt the sentiments of the wider Hindu community. The content, posted from a Facebook account operated by the accused, contained malicious remarks about the Hindu deity, Lord Hanuman, and also included objectionable statements directed at a particular caste, thereby indicating a broader pattern of targeted hostility. During the investigation, authorities found that the accused had misrepresented himself as a practising lawyer despite being only an LLB student and not being enrolled with any Bar Council, thereby misleading the public while circulating objectionable material. The posts in question had been secured by investigators and formed part of the evidence supporting the prosecution’s case. The prosecution emphasised the seriousness of the offence, noting that such actions had the potential to disturb social harmony and create an atmosphere of fear and provocation within society. When the matter was heard by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Sumeet Goel dismissed the anticipatory bail plea filed by the accused. The court observed that while considering pre-arrest bail, it was necessary to strike a balance between safeguarding individual liberty and protecting societal interests, particularly in cases involving serious offences with wider social implications. It noted that the nature and gravity of the offence, the role attributed to the accused, and the requirement of a fair and unhindered investigation weighed against the grant of anticipatory bail. The court observed that the material on record established a reasonable basis for the accusations and that no sufficient grounds were presented to indicate false implication. Taking into account the seriousness of the offence, the impact of the actions on societal harmony, and the need for a thorough investigation, the High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. The subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. This case stands as a clear instance of anti-Hindu hate speech, as the accused, Harvansh Rai, deliberately shared derogatory and inflammatory social media posts targeting Lord Hanuman. Lord Hanuman holds profound significance in Hinduism as the greatest devotee of Lord Rama, symbolising unwavering devotion, strength, courage, and selfless service, qualities that inspire millions of Hindus worldwide. He stands as one of the most revered deities, with devotees invoking his name through chants, fasts, and festivals like Hanuman Jayanti. Any act of denigrating or abusing Lord Hanuman strikes at the heart of Hindu devotion, amounting to clear anti-Hindu hate speech fuelled by religious animosity towards Hinduism and the Hindu community. Such verbal assaults on Lord Hanuman stemmed from deep-seated hatred for Hinduism, making this a clear example of anti-Hindu hate speech. The nature of the content shared by the accused further aggravated the offence, as it included not only offensive remarks about a central Hindu deity but also derogatory statements targeting a particular caste. This combination of religious insult and caste-based denigration highlights a broader pattern of hostility aimed at undermining both the religious and social fabric of Hindu society. Such actions cannot be viewed in isolation or dismissed as mere online misconduct; rather, they point towards a deliberate pattern of behaviour intended to provoke, offend, and spread contempt against Hindu beliefs and communities. When hate speech targets Hindu gods and deities in this manner, it emboldens others, sparking a dangerous ripple effect where individuals feel encouraged to unleash similar vitriolic statements. This proliferation normalises contempt for Hinduism, fostering an environment ripe for escalating Hinduphobia and threatening the social fabric where Hindus can practise their faith without fear. Far from harmless banter, these acts sow seeds of division, amplifying prejudice against Hindus and their faith. In recent times, there has been a surge in derogatory memes, comments, abusive posts, and slanders directed towards Hinduism, its deities, the Hindu community, and respected Hindu scholars across online platforms. This case stands as a glaring example within that trend. The accused’s derogatory statements form part of a broader pattern of online Hinduphobia, a toxic environment in which hate against Hindus is normalised and spread through targeted insults and ridicule. Such actions serve to deepen divisions, attack Hindu identity, and vilify an entire faith community. Accordingly, this incident has been included in the Hinduphobia Tracker as a documented example of targeted hate speech against Hindu religious beliefs and identity. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incidents based on when an event occurred or when the victim's ordeal began. It is important to clarify that none of the media sources covering this case has specified the exact date when the accused made these objectionable statements. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media, 18 March 2026.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
