On Monday, the Supreme Court decided to withhold its decision on a request made by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to move a criminal defamation case, currently awaiting judgment in an Ahmedabad court, to another location.
The Supreme Court of India, on Monday, delivered its verdict regarding a plea by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav. Tejashwi has requested the transfer of a criminal defamation case, currently pending against him in an Ahmedabad court, to a jurisdiction outside Gujarat, with a preference for Delhi. This case stems from his controversial remark suggesting that “only Gujaratis can be thugs,” which has since sparked significant legal and public discourse.
A bench comprising Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan acknowledged a new apology statement from Tejashwi Yadav, indicating a step towards resolution.
“We will pass orders,”
the bench stated, reflecting the Supreme Court’s intent to conclude this high-profile matter.
The origins of the legal battle trace back to comments made by Yadav in March 2023. While addressing the media in Patna, Yadav allegedly said,
“Only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud will be forgiven.”
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He further questioned,
“Who will be responsible if they run away with the money belonging to the LIC or banks?”
These remarks led to the filing of a defamation complaint by Haresh Mehta, a Gujarat-based businessman and activist, who argued that Yadav’s comments cast aspersions on the entire Gujarati community.
In response to the ensuing legal challenge, the Supreme Court on January 29 directed Tejashwi Yadav to submit a “proper statement” retracting his “Gujarati thugs” comment. Tejashwi complied on January 19, filing an affidavit in the apex court to withdraw his controversial statement. Prior to this development, the Supreme Court had temporarily halted proceedings in the defamation complaint and issued a notice to Mehta, the complainant.
The complaint lodged against Tejashwi Yadav falls under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), concerning allegations of criminal defamation. Following a preliminary inquiry in August, under section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Gujarat court found sufficient grounds to summon Yadav based on the complaint.
This case highlights the intricate balance between freedom of speech and the protection of community reputation under Indian law. As the Supreme Court prepares to issue its order, the legal and political communities keenly await a decision that could set significant precedents for defamation law and political discourse in India.
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