The Delhi Police have registered a case against senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Saurabh Bhardwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Adil Ahmed Khan over allegations of hurting religious sentiments through social media posts. The FIR follows a complaint related to a satirical street performance held at Connaught Place, parts of which were later shared online by the leaders.

According to the complaint, the videos posted on December 17 and 18, 2025, showed a political skit in which performers dressed as Santa Claus participated in a protest highlighting air pollution in the national capital. In the visuals, the Santa Claus character is seen wearing a mask, collapsing on the road due to poor air quality and being subjected to what the complainant described as a mock CPR act.

The complainant alleged that Santa Claus, considered a sacred cultural and religious symbol for Christians, was portrayed in a disrespectful and mocking manner. It was claimed that using the character as a prop for political messaging, especially during the Christmas season, amounted to a deliberate attempt to insult religious beliefs and outrage sentiments.

Based on the complaint, Delhi Police have registered the case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) that deal with acts intended to hurt religious feelings and publicly ridicule religious symbols. Police officials said the matter is under investigation and that the content in question is being examined from a legal standpoint.

Reacting to the FIR, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj strongly denied the allegations and termed the police action politically motivated. In a statement shared on social media, Bhardwaj said the skit was meant to draw attention to Delhi’s worsening air pollution and rising AQI levels, an issue affecting public health across the city. He alleged that once the issue gained traction online, investigative agencies and the police were being used to silence opposition voices.