The Karnataka High Court on Monday stayed the case filed against journalist Ajeet Bharti for booked for spreading false information about Congress leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued a stay on the case filed against journalist Ajeet Bharti, who was booked for allegedly spreading false information about Congress leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi. This case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for freedom of expression and the responsibilities of journalists.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, presiding over the matter, observed that the central issue pertained to the veracity of the claims made by national newspapers, which Bharti had shared. The Court recorded,
“If the tweet is a result of certain newspaper reports, which were also a claim by a certain former Congress leaders and the petitioner also tweeted with regard to such claim, it becomes a claim versus claim. Therefore, the genesis of the problem lies in the claim as afore-quoted, which has resulted in the tweet by the petitioner.”
The first information report (FIR) against Bharti was initiated by BK Bopanna, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) legal unit secretary. Bopanna alleged that Bharti had disseminated false information via his X (formerly Twitter) handle. The complaint specifically mentioned that Bharti had posted a video asserting that Rahul Gandhi intended to restore the Babri Masjid in place of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
As a result, an FIR was registered against Bharti under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Aggrieved by the FIR, Bharti approached the Karnataka High Court seeking relief.
Senior Advocate M Aruna Shyam, representing Bharti, argued that Bharti’s actions were within his fundamental rights under the Constitution. Shyam contended that the complainant’s actions amounted to an infringement on Bharti’s freedom of expression. She, therefore, sought the quashing of the complaint.
The Court emphasized the necessity of verifying the truthfulness of the newspaper reports before permitting any further investigation.
“Therefore, it is for the learned SPP to steer clear the truthfulness or otherwise of the afore-quoted columns of the ex-Congressman. Till such steering clear would happen, no further investigation can be permitted against the petitioner,”
-the Court stated.
The stay order signifies a critical juncture in this case, balancing the need to uphold journalistic freedom while ensuring that information shared publicly is accurate and not misleading. The Court is set to hear the matter further on July 19, which will likely provide more clarity on the issues at hand and the future course of the case.
This development highlights the ongoing debate about the limits of free speech, especially in the context of social media and journalism, and the role of the judiciary in safeguarding these fundamental rights while maintaining public order and trust.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Rahul Gandhi
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
