Today, On 9th September, Shashi Tharoor approached the Supreme Court challenging a trial court’s summons regarding his remark comparing Prime Minister Modi to a “scorpion.” A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra assured Tharoor’s counsel that the plea for urgent hearing would be considered.
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, on Monday approached the Supreme Court, challenging a trial court order summoning him in a defamation case related to his remark comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a scorpion.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, assured Tharoor’s counsel that the request for an urgent hearing would be considered.
The Court stated after the matter brought to its attention by Tharoor’s legal team,
“Please send an email. We will look at it,”
The trial court summoned Shashi Tharoor following a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajiv Babbar. The case stemmed from a statement Tharoor allegedly made in November 2018 at the Bangalore Literature Festival, where he reportedly remarked,
“Mr. Modi is a scorpion sitting on a Shivling.”
After the Delhi High Court refused to dismiss the case on August 9, Tharoor appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.
The defamation case against Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stems from a controversial remark he allegedly made in November 2018 during the Bangalore Literature Festival.
At the event, Tharoor reportedly compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a “scorpion sitting on a Shivling,” a statement that sparked outrage among members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and supporters of the Prime Minister.
Following this statement, BJP leader Rajiv Babbar filed a defamation case against Tharoor, arguing that the remark was derogatory and hurt the sentiments of Hindus, as it portrayed the Prime Minister in a disrespectful manner, particularly in relation to religious imagery. The trial court took cognizance of the complaint and subsequently issued summons to Tharoor, calling for his appearance in the defamation case.
Tharoor challenged this summons, seeking to have the case dismissed. However, on August 9, 2023, the Delhi High Court refused to quash the defamation proceedings, leading to Tharoor’s appeal before the Supreme Court. Tharoor’s legal team has now approached the apex court, seeking urgent relief from the trial court’s summons. The case continues to attract public attention, given its sensitive nature involving political and religious sentiments.
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