[Amit Shah's Doctored Video Case] High Court Denies Lunch Motion Moved By Delhi Police

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The Telangana High Court’s decision to decline the lunch motion moved by the Delhi police in the Amit Shah morphed video case has paved the way for further investigation into the matter. Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy has directed the Delhi police to follow due process and approach the lower court for necessary actions

[Amit Shah's Doctored Video Case] High Court Denies Lunch Motion Moved By Delhi Police — [Amit Shah’s Doctored Video Case] High Court Denies Lunch Motion Moved By Delhi Police

Chennai: On May 9th, Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court rejected the lunch motion (if there is an emergency, one moves a lunch motion in the morning and the case is heard the very same day after lunch at 2.15 is called a lunch motion) moved by the Delhi police. The motion sought a direction to vacate the order that prevents them from taking coercive action against individuals accused of creating and circulating a morphed video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The judge, while hearing the contentions of the Delhi police, suggested that they approach the lower court, obtain a prisoner transit warrant, and question the accused as part of the ongoing investigation. The case involves allegations against some individuals for doctoring a video clip featuring the Union Minister and making contentious observations about reservations.

Background:

The controversy revolves around a doctored video of Amit Shah that was widely circulated on social media, falsely portraying him as advocating for the abolition of all reservations in Telangana. In actuality, Shah is speaking about eliminating a quota for Muslims based on religious grounds . The video led to investigations by the Delhi Police and the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police, resulting in several arrests, including that of Arun Reddy, who managed the “Spirit of Congress” handle on X.

The investigation into the edited video, which was allegedly intended to incite discord among communities, is currently underway. The Delhi Police is also working with social media platforms to obtain information about individuals who disseminated the manipulated video.

A team of Delhi police had recently arrived in Hyderabad to register a criminal case against those involved in doctoring and circulating the video. They had already issued notices to Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and others implicated in the matter.

Simultaneously, the Hyderabad police registered a separate case based on a complaint filed by BJP General Secretary Premender Reddy, alleging similar content. The Cyber Crime Sleuths (CCS) arrested Manne Satish and five others, who were presented before a local court and subsequently granted bail by the lower court judge.

In a separate move, Manne Satish and the five others, all members of the Congress party’s social media cell, filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking protection from arrest. Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy, who heard the petition, directed the Delhi police not to take any coercive action against the petitioners and emphasized the importance of following due process.

In response, the Delhi police filed a lunch motion requesting the court to vacate the order issued by Justice Vijaysen Reddy. However, Justice Bhaskar Reddy denied permission for the lunch motion and adjourned the hearing to June 12.

Furthermore, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president Mahesh Kumar Goud also filed a writ petition seeking protection for the TPCC social media secretaries from arrest by the Delhi police.

Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy, who heard the petition, noted that another judge had already instructed the Hyderabad police not to arrest the TPCC social media personnel in response to notices issued by the Delhi police. However, the senior counsel representing the petitioner requested an adjournment after the summer vacation, which was granted by the judge.

Earlier, the Patiala House Court in Delhi ordered the remand of Arun Reddy, the accused linked to managing the ‘Spirit of Congress’ X account, concerning the alleged ‘deepfake morphed video’ involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Reddy, who apprehended by the Delhi Police in connection with the case, faced judicial custody until May 7, 2024. Following three days of police remand, he appeared before the court for proceedings.

Judge Neha Garg, presiding as the Additional Sessions Judge , decided to place Arun Reddy in judicial custody for a single day. Additionally, she issued a notice to the Investigation Officer of the Delhi Police regarding a bail plea submitted by Reddy