Madras High Court Quashes Proceedings Against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje After State Govt Accepts Her Apology

Justice G Jayachandran allowed Karandlaje's petition after Advocate General PS Raman informed the court that considering Karandlaje's profound apology, the state has taken a policy decision to not pursue the matter further.

“The learned AG, on instructions from the Government reports that the state, after considering the profound apology made by the petitioner [Karandlaje] through an affidavit has taken a policy decision to not pursue the matter further. In light of the fact, crime No. 24/2024 stands quashed,” the court ordered in open court.

The allegation against Shobha is that in March 2024, after the blasts in Rameshwaram café, she allegedly said, “People trained in Tamil Nadu plant bombs here. Bomb was planted at the hotel.” Following this, one Thiagarajan, a resident of Madurai, lodged a complaint stating that the alleged remark was intended to create enmity and hatred among Tamils and Kannadigas.

Following the complaint, the Madurai Cyber Crime Police Station registered a case under Sections 153, 153(A), 505(i)(b), and 505(ii) of the IPC. Karandlaje had thus approached the High Court to quash the case.

Though the State had previously informed the court that they would not object to quashing if Karandlaje held a press conference and apologized for her remarks, Karandlaje expressed certain reservations about the State's draft apology.

Following this, Karandlaje filed an affidavit apologizing for her remarks. Karandlaje submitted that she didn't intend to hurt the sentiments and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu. She added that after realizing that her comments had hurt the sentiments of the people of the State, she retracted the statement and also tendered a profound apology. Karandlajea added that she had the highest respect and regard to the people of Tamil Nadu.

“I have the highest respect and regard to the history, rich culture, tradition and to the people of Tamil Nadu and I had or have no intention whatsoever to hurt the sentiments of people of Tamil Nadu by any conduct of mine. Hence, I hereby once again tender my apology to the people of Tamil Nadu for having caused any hurt from my comments,” the affidavit read.

Noting that the apology had been accepted by the State on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, the court allowed Karandlaje's petition and quashed the case.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Mad) 339

Case Title: Shobha Karandlaje v State

Case No: Crl OP (MD) 9875 of 2024