New Delhi, Jan. 7 -- The Supreme Court has directed Uttar Pradesh (UP) police not take coercive steps against Neha Singh Rathore, who was booked for her alleged "anti-India" social-media posts on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Pahalgam terror attack, granting her interim 'protection from arrest' to the Bhojpuri-singer.

A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar issued notice to the state, seeking response on the plea filed by Rathore which had challenged the Allahabad High Courts' decision denying her anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail.

Additionally, to ensure the accused's cooperation with the investigation, in the case against her, the apex court ordered Rathore to appear before the Investigating-officer as and when req...