The Supreme Court delivered a significant verdict on Tuesday, dismissing the defamation complaint filed against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav over his purported "only Gujaratis can be thugs" statement. The bench comprising Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan granted Yadav relief after he withdrew his contentious remark.
Relief granted
Acknowledging Tejashwi Yadav's withdrawal of the controversial statement, the Supreme Court bench quashed the defamation complaint against him, effectively absolving him of legal liability in this matter.
Withdrawal of statement
In compliance with the Supreme Court's directive issued on January 29, Tejashwi Yadav submitted a formal affidavit withdrawing his alleged remark, paving the way for the resolution of the legal dispute.
Stayed proceedings
Earlier, the apex court had temporarily stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation complaint initiated against Tejashwi Yadav, issuing a notice to the complainant, Haresh Mehta, a Gujarat resident who filed the complaint in an Ahmedabad court.
Background of the Case
The defamation complaint stemmed from Tejashwi Yadav's remarks made during a media interaction in Patna in March 2023, where he allegedly stated, "Only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud will be forgiven." Haresh Mehta, the complainant, argued that Yadav's comments disparaged the entire Gujarati community, prompting legal action against the RJD leader.
With the Supreme Court's decision to quash the defamation complaint, the legal battle surrounding Tejashwi Yadav's controversial statement comes to a definitive conclusion. The verdict underscores the importance of responsible speech and the judiciary's role in adjudicating disputes arising from potentially inflammatory remarks. Stay tuned for further updates on this story and its implications.
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