Hours after 25-year-old Ruchika Singh was charged by the police over the abusive language she allegedly used against PM Narendra Modi, efforts are still underway to track her.
Amid these efforts, more details have emerged about Ruchika, whose family have also apologised for the viral outburst.
“We have already given an apology letter to the police officials. We are very sorry about what has happened," her mother said in an apology, adding that she was deeply sorry that the salon's name was dragged into the issue as well.
According to T.P. Tripathi, the owner of the My Time Unisex Salon, where she had been working for a while, Ruchika had been fired back in June 9 this year, over an Aadhaar card dispute.
Tripathi said that Ruchika had been working at the salon for about two weeks to learn nail art, at which time she would often sign in under the alias 'Menshil', as per a News18 Hindi report.
After two weeks, she was asked to provide her Aadhaar card and other identification documents, which she allegedly refused multiple times, due to which she was fired. Tripathi also condemned her language in the video, calling insults against the PM unacceptable.
Ruchika, who hails from Faridabad's Uncha Gaon where she lives with her family, had also purchased a flat at Lotus Zing in Noida's Sector 150. However, she has not been found at either place.
A number of fake social media accounts have also emerged in Ruchika's name, which have sparked questions about the 25-year-old's identity.
CJP reacts to the Zero FIR
The Zero FIR was filed after a complaint from Supreme Court advocate, Smriti Singh, who collected video evidence of Ruchika's alleged abusive remarks against the PM and submitted it to the police.
This led to the Expressway Police Station filing a Zero FIR under Sections 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case was later transferred to the Delhi police.
"The language may be wrong, it may be objectionable to someone, but it is no reason to invoke the criminal machinery against such people. It leads to a chilling effect," said CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, who said that all generations—especially Gen Z—would find the move unacceptable.
However, he also urged the younger generation to "be very careful" with their words, and their impact on people.
"That said, criminal machinery being used is a big no-no. It is completely unacceptable, it should not happen," he added, as per an NDTV report.
