Even as several states report attacks and harassment of Christians during Christmas, Delhi Police have registered an FIR against three AAP leaders over a satirical skit portraying Santa Claus as a victim of air pollution.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, December 26, 2025: : At a time when multiple states have reported attacks on Christian communities, disruptions to church services, and harassment during Christmas celebrations allegedly by right-wing groups, Delhi Police have registered an FIR against three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a satirical skit on air pollution that portrayed Santa Claus as a victim of the city’s toxic air.
An FIR was lodged on December 25, 2025, at Connaught Place police station against AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj, Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha, and party leader Adil Ahmad Khan, following a complaint by advocate Khushboo George. The complaint pertains to videos posted on AAP’s official social media handles on December 17 and 18, featuring a skit performed at Connaught Place.
According to the complainant, the skit depicted individuals dressed as Santa Claus—considered a cultural and religious symbol by many Christians—in a mocking and derogatory manner. The performance showed Santas wearing anti-pollution masks, protesting against Delhi’s hazardous air quality, and dramatically collapsing after hearing high Air Quality Index (AQI) readings of around 376. AAP leaders were seen performing mock CPR on the fallen Santas as part of a political message criticising the handling of air pollution. One of the videos was captioned by Bharadwaj: “Santa Claus fainted in Delhi pollution.”
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The complainant alleged that portraying CPR being performed on Santa Claus amounted to a “direct insult” to the sanctity of St Nicholas and Christmas, particularly as the video was released during the concluding days of Advent. Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 299, 302 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), dealing with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, with common intention.
The FIR states that the collective actions of Bharadwaj, a former Delhi minister; Jha, the Burari MLA; and Khan, a national executive member of AAP, could potentially disturb communal harmony. Links to AAP’s Instagram and Facebook posts were submitted as primary evidence.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharply criticised the skit, calling it an “indecent and objectionable act” and accusing AAP leaders of mocking religious faith. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said public representatives are expected to maintain dignity and seriousness. “Such conduct is not befitting of any socially responsible individual,” he said.
AAP, however, dismissed the allegations, terming the FIR politically motivated. Bharadwaj said the skit was a form of political satire aimed at drawing attention to Delhi’s severe air pollution crisis. “The performance helped take the issue of air pollution to the masses and put pressure on both the Delhi and Union governments,” he said.
Breaking News🚨
Delhi Police have registered an FIR against AAP’s #Delhi President @Saurabh_MLAgk for allegedly mocking & hurting religious sentiments of #Christians through this video.👇Watch the video urself & decide WHO IS ACTUALLY BEING MOCKED. 👇🤣#Pollution #SantaClaus https://t.co/7nWMRdV1Qq
— Duck 🪿 🇮🇳 (@DuckKiBaat) December 25, 2025
The party also alleged selective outrage and political intimidation, accusing the BJP of misusing investigative agencies and now the Delhi Police to target opposition leaders. “Their propaganda is being exposed, so they are scared. BJP workers are now donning the mask of Christians,” Bharadwaj alleged.
Pointing to what AAP described as double standards, Bharadwaj cited recent incidents in Lajpat Nagar, where individuals dressed as Santa were allegedly abused, threatened and chased away by right-wing elements. “Caps of people dressed as Santa were forcibly removed, yet no FIR was filed and no Christian sentiments were claimed to be hurt then,” he said.
The FIR in Delhi comes against the backdrop of countrywide reports of attacks on Christian institutions and Christmas celebrations during the 2025 festive season, including vandalism of churches, disruptions of carol services, and harassment of people dressed as Santa Claus in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and others. Christian organisations and rights groups have raised concerns over shrinking space for religious celebrations and what they describe as uneven law enforcement responses.
As political tempers rise over the skit, the episode has reignited a broader debate on selective policing, freedom of expression, and contrasting responses to attacks on minorities versus political satire in the national capital and across the country.
