Court Acquits MLA T. Raja Singh in 2022 Controversial Remarks Case

In a significant legal development, Goshamahal MLA T. Raja Singh has been acquitted in a high-profile case registered against him in 2022 over alleged remarks concerning Prophet Muhammad . The Special Court for MPs and MLAs in Hyderabad on Tuesday dismissed the case, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the legislator.

The case dates back to August 2022, when the Mangalhat Police booked Raja Singh under Sections 153A(a)(b), 295A, 504, 505(2) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) following allegations that his comments had hurt religious sentiments and promoted communal disharmony. The controversy triggered protests in Hyderabad and attracted national attention, eventually leading to his arrest and subsequent detention under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act .

After reviewing witness testimonies, documentary evidence and arguments presented by both the prosecution and defence, the court concluded that the allegations could not be substantiated. It held that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted Raja Singh, bringing an end to one of Telangana’s most closely watched legal battles arising from the 2022 controversy.

Reacting to the verdict, Raja Singh said the judgment reaffirmed his faith in the judiciary. He alleged that the case had been filed under political pressure and maintained that he had never made comments intended to insult any religion or religious figure. The MLA also recalled spending nearly 77 days in jail after the then government invoked the PD Act against him. He expressed confidence that he would secure similar relief in other cases pending against him.

His counsel, K. Karuna Sagar , welcomed the ruling and said the court had carefully examined all evidence before arriving at its conclusion. According to the lawyer, the complainant had acknowledged during the proceedings that the disputed references were drawn from Islamic literature. He argued that the prosecution was unable to establish any criminal offence against the legislator.

The verdict comes nearly a year after Raja Singh parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) . Although he continues to represent Goshamahal in the Telangana Assembly, he resigned from the BJP in June 2025 following differences over the party’s state leadership. Prior to that, he had been suspended by the party in 2022 over the same controversy before the suspension was later revoked ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections.