The Supreme Court today reserved its order on a plea lodged by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, seeking the transfer of a criminal defamation complaint pending against him in an Ahmedabad court.
The complaint relates to the RJD leader’s purported statement where he said that only Gujaratis can be thugs. In his petition, Tejashwi Yadav is urging for the transfer to a location outside the state, preferably Delhi.
A bench comprising Justice AS Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan acknowledged a recent apology statement lodged by the RJD leader and mentioned that they will pass orders. The Supreme Court on January 29, had directed Tejashwi Yadav to submit a proper statement retracting his alleged remark.
Earlier, the RJD leader had filed an affidavit on January 19 in the Supreme Court, withdrawing his contentious comment on Gujaratis. During the proceedings related to the plea, the apex court had previously halted the progress in a criminal defamation complaint, issuing a notice to Gujarat residents who initiated the complaint.
The charges against Tejashwi Yadav are framed under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for purported criminal defamation. The Gujarat court in August conducted a preliminary inquiry against the RJD leader under section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, finding sufficient grounds to summon him.
The following actions were considered in response to a complaint filed by a businessman and activist Haresh Mehta. The activist mentioned that during a press conference in Patna in March 2023, RJD leader Yadav had remarked that only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud will be forgiven.
He further pointed out Tejashwi Yadav expressing concern about the accountability if individuals from Gujarat absconded with funds from LIC or banks, as the then Bihar deputy chief minister had allegedly stated. Mehta also contended that Yadav’s comments had tarnished the reputation of all Gujaratis.
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