A fresh political controversy has erupted after People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti filed a police complaint seeking registration of an FIR against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over an incident involving a woman doctor at a government function in Patna. The complaint was submitted on Friday, though authorities have not yet confirmed whether an FIR has been registered.

Mufti alleged that the Chief Minister crossed a legal and moral line by publicly removing the veil of a Muslim woman doctor during an official appointment ceremony. Calling the act “deeply disturbing,” she said such behaviour from a constitutional authority sends the wrong signal to society and risks normalising acts that undermine women’s dignity and personal freedom.

Speaking after filing the complaint, Mufti asserted that no individual, regardless of position, has the right to interfere with a woman’s personal choice of attire. She criticised statements made by political leaders defending the incident, stating that moral policing of women — whether over hijab, abaya, or western clothing — is unacceptable in a democratic society.

In her written complaint addressed to the local police station, Mufti described the incident as humiliating and said it caused widespread anguish, particularly among Muslim women. She alleged that the reaction of leaders present at the event, including senior members of the Bihar government, further aggravated the situation, as no immediate objection was raised at the time.

The incident occurred earlier this week at the Bihar Chief Minister’s Secretariat during an official programme where newly appointed AYUSH doctors were being handed appointment letters. A video of the moment, widely shared on social media, shows the Chief Minister questioning the woman’s veil and removing it in public view, triggering sharp criticism from opposition parties.

Mufti warned that such public actions by those in power could embolden elements in society to target women, especially minorities. She claimed that following the incident, there have been reports and visuals circulating online of similar acts against Muslim women elsewhere, which she described as a worrying trend.

Opposition parties have demanded a public apology from the Chief Minister, arguing that the incident goes beyond politics and touches upon constitutional rights, personal liberty, and respect for women. The ruling alliance, however, has so far defended Kumar, while the police remain silent on the status of the complaint.