"People In Power Should Be More Conscious": Madras HC On Minister Shobha Karandlaje's Remarks Linking Rameswaram Cafe Bombers To Tamil Nadu
Upasana Sajeev
7 Aug 2024 2:18 PM GMT
"People in power should be more conscious while making statements," the Madras High Court on Wednesday said in relation to Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje's alleged remarks linking Rameshwaram Cafe bombers in Bengaluru to Tamil Nadu.
Justice G Jayachadran made the oral remarks while hearing the petition filed by the Minister to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against her.
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.
Court said,
"Persons in power should know what is happening. Imagine if someone from the lower level sees and interprets her remarks differently. What would happen?"
On Wednesday, Advocate General PS Raman informed the court that the State would not object to quashing of proceedings if Karandlaje held a press conference apologizing for her remarks and stating that she had high regard for the people of the State.
The State also circulated a draft format of the apology that was expected from Karandlaje.
Following this, the court granted 10 days to Karandlaje's counsel to get instructions on whether she was ready to hold the press conference. Though the counsel informed the court that she was willing to file an affidavit expressing apology, the court opined that it would be more appropriate to hold a press conference and apologize as the comments were also made publicly.
The court had previously questioned Karandlaje on her statements and had asked how the Minister could link the blasts with the people of Tamil Nadu even before the National Investigation Agency conducted its searches.
In her petition, the Minister submitted that the FIRs were filed with ulterior motives and were an abuse of process. She added that she had already retracted her remarks clarifying her intentions and apologizing for the statements. She said putting the criminal law in motion despite this is malicious and hits the core of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Case Title: Shobha Karandlaje v State
Case No: Crl OP (MD) 9875 of 2024
