Principal booked over ‘Pakistani’ song at school event

Principal Siddiqui said the music used during the programme was from the popular Turkish TV serial “Ertugrul Ghazi”, and it was not a Pakistani song.

Jalna: A case has been registered against the principal and two teachers over the alleged performance of a Pakistani song during a school programme in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, even though they claimed that it was music from a Turkish TV serial.

The Partur police on Thursday, June 18, registered a case against principal Wazhiyoddin Siddiqui and two others under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India), 196 (promoting enmity between groups), 197 (spreading misinformation affecting national integration) and 353 (circulating false information likely to cause public alarm).

Earlier, some social media posts had alleged that students of Kids World English School at Partur danced to a Pakistani song during the annual gathering in March 2025, and a photograph of Pakistani extremist “Mumtaz Qadri” was displayed during the performance.

Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Babanrao Lonikar demanded action against the school management, including the cancellation of the school’s recognition.

The school administration strongly denied the allegations.

Principal Siddiqui said the music used during the programme was from the popular Turkish TV serial “Ertugrul Ghazi,” and it was not a Pakistani song.

“The image shown during the performance was of an actor from ‘Ertugrul Ghazi.’ Some persons tampered with the visuals and circulated misleading content on social media,” he told reporters.

An investigation is underway to ascertain the facts, police officials said.