Jaanmoni Das Arrested Over Remarks on PM Linked to Jantar Mantar Protest
Transgender makeup artist Jaanmoni Das was arrested by the Kozhikode Cyber police on Thursday, August 20, 2026, over alleged derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video linked to a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The arrest followed a complaint submitted last month to the District Police Chief of Kozhikode city by Mahila Morcha State president Navya Haridas. The complaint accused Das of making objectionable comments in a video circulated on social media regarding the Jantar Mantar demonstration.
Following the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 192, relating to wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, and 356(2), concerning criminal defamation, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the First Information Report, the video contained defamatory content that was circulated with the intention of causing unrest and disturbing public peace.
Cyber police had issued a notice to Das following a preliminary investigation, directing her to appear for questioning on Thursday. She was taken into custody after being interrogated and was subsequently released on bail.
The controversy began after the video gained traction across social media platforms. Das later issued a clarification stating that she was not proficient in Malayalam and that the remarks resulted from an error in language use, though Mahila Morcha activists refused to accept the explanation.
