The Karnataka High Court is deliberating on BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s plea to dismiss an FIR for allegedly disseminating false information regarding a farmer’s suicide. Surya claimed the Congress government was responsible, but police stated the suicide was due to debt. The case raises concerns about the politicization of sensitive issues and responsible communication.
Karnataka: The Karnataka High Court has reserved its judgment on a plea by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya seeking the quashing of an FIR lodged against him for allegedly spreading fake news about a farmer’s suicide in Haveri district. The case has stirred controversy over political narratives surrounding the incident.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, while reserving the order, expressed concerns about the politicization of the issue.
“A life is lost. A farmer’s son commits suicide due to alleged debts or whatever. And all of you are playing politics over it. Those things are being fought elsewhere. Let us not politicise it here. A court is not the platform for your politics,”
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the judge remarked.
The FIR against Surya stems from his social media post on November 8, where he alleged that the Congress government was responsible for the farmer’s suicide. In his post on X (formerly Twitter), he claimed:
“A farmer in Haveri commits suicide after finding his land taken over by Waqf! In their haste to appease minorities, CM Siddaramaiah and Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan have unleashed catastrophic effects in Karnataka that are becoming impossible to contain with every passing day.”
The police later clarified that the suicide was due to mounting debts and not related to any Waqf board issue. Following this, the Haveri Cybercrime, Economic, and Narcotic Offences Police booked Surya under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly spreading false information.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam, representing Surya, argued that the MP had deleted the post immediately after its accuracy was questioned and had no intention of creating unrest.
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However, the State contended that Surya’s post implied that the Congress government had caused the farmer’s death, which could incite unrest. “It was Surya who was playing politics, not us,” the State argued.
The High Court had earlier granted a temporary stay on the FIR against Surya on November 14 after he filed a plea seeking its quashing. The court has now reserved its decision, stating that it will focus solely on whether the FIR aligns with the provisions of Section 353(2) of the BNS.
This case, highlighting the intersection of law and politics, underscores the importance of responsible communication in sensitive matters. The High Court’s decision is eagerly awaited.
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