Lyricist Javed Akhtar has been acquitted in the RSS remarks case after the complainant decided to withdraw the complaint. The case was filed in response to Akhtar’s controversial comments about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The withdrawal led to the court closing the matter.
Mumbai: Mumbai court acquitted veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar in a defamation case after the complainant withdrew the allegations against him.
Judicial Magistrate (First Class) S.D. Chakkar disposed of the case on November 8, as noted in the order made available on Monday.
The complaint had been filed by Advocate Santosh Dubey, who identifies as an RSS supporter, in October 2021.
Dubey accused Akhtar of defamation under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging that Akhtar made objectionable comments about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during a television interview, linking the organization to Hindu extremism in the context of the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan.
Recently, Dubey submitted a plea to withdraw the complaint, stating that the “matter is settled between the parties in mediation” and that he no longer wishes to pursue the case against Akhtar.
This legal dispute had garnered widespread public attention, given Akhtar’s prominence in the film and literary world and the RSS’s influential role in Indian socio-political discourse. The acquittal not only brings an end to the case but also highlights the ongoing tensions between public figures and political or ideological entities in India.
The withdrawal of the case serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in navigating free speech and accountability in a diverse and polarized society like India. While the acquittal resolves the immediate legal matter, the larger debate over the limits of free expression and its potential consequences continues to resonate.
For Akhtar, the case’s conclusion allows him to move forward without the shadow of legal proceedings, while for the complainant, the withdrawal signifies an acknowledgment of the need to de-escalate the conflict.
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