On 20 March 2019, Advocate Pravesh Dabas lodged a police complaint at the Bawana police station, Delhi, against Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. It was reported the same evening and in the next day's newspapers.
According to the reports, the complaint alleged that during her three-day Ganga Yatra from Prayagraj, the boat she travelled in had been draped with the national flag on the top, sides, front and back, so that the flag touched the floor and the water, and that the flag had also been used as a barricade along the river bank. The complaint described this as disrespect to the national flag and sought action. One report said the complaint invoked the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and that photographs from media reports were attached.
A Deputy Commissioner of Police was quoted as saying that the complaint had been received.
About this item
This was a complaint made by the advocate himself, not a case in which he represented a client. A complaint sets out allegations only; the reports do not record what action, if any, followed.
Where it was reported
- My Nation — "Complaint filed against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for 'insulting' Tricolour during Ganga Yatra" (20 March 2019)
- The Indian Express — "Advocate files complaint against Priyanka" (Briefly column, 21 March 2019)
- Dainik Jagran (Hindi) — "प्रियंका के खिलाफ थाने में दी शिकायत" (21 March 2019)
- Nai Dunia (Hindi) — "प्रियंका के खिलाफ दिल्ली में शिकायत, तिरंगे के अपमान का आरोप" (21 March 2019)
- Dainik Bhaskar (Hindi) — "प्रियंका गांधी पर तिरंगे के अपमान का आरोप, थाने में दी शिकायत"
The Indian Express and My Nation reports spell the advocate's name "Praveen".
