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Sedition charges were filed on Monday against Dr Madri Kakoti, an assistant professor in the linguistics department at Lucknow University, following her controversial post on the recent Pahalgam terror attack. This action comes just a day after a similar sedition case was registered against popular folk singer Neha Singh Rathore for her social media posts on Pahalham killings.

Dr Madri Kakoti, who is popular as Dr Medusa, is a prominent social media commentator.

The FIR against Dr Kakoti was registered at Hasanganj police station after a complaint by ABVP leader Jatin Shukla, who accused her of repeatedly targeting India’s unity and sovereignty through posts on X (formerly Twitter). The complaint also alleged that some of her remarks, including the use of terms like "saffron terrorists," were being circulated by Pakistani media outlets, further fuelling outrage.

In her video, Kakoti, who is known for her satirical takes on government and society, stated that religious profiling before killing someone is terrorism, as is inquiring about religion before lynching, sacking people from jobs, denying tenants accommodation and bulldozing homes, among other acts.

Dr Kakoti, who often hits out at governments through her posts under the name Dr Medusa, was born in Assam. She is known for her bold political commentary and satire. Her latest statements have provoked students at Lucknow University into protest. Intended as a broader critique of religious discrimination, her comments quickly became the focus of student group demonstrations demanding university action.

In response, Lucknow University issued Dr Kakoti a show-cause notice, asking for a written explanation within five days and warning of disciplinary measures. ABVP-led protests on campus included sloganeering and a memorandum to the vice-chancellor calling for strict action against her.

Dr Kakoti, who has 150,000 followers on X, was quoted by the Times of India: "What I said is a fact and 100% correct. There is nothing wrong in this statement. It is a general one, listing crimes which fall within the definition of causing 'terror'. I can't really take any responsibility for someone thinking it is about them".

Police have registered the case under charges of sedition, promoting enmity, hurting religious sentiments, disturbing public peace and relevant sections of the IT Act. The investigation is ongoing, as debate intensifies over freedom of expression and the boundaries of dissent in the wake of the Pahalgam tragedy.

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