“Conspiracy to target the Prime Minister is an offence under IPC. It is treason,” the Delhi High Court said on Wednesday. The judicial body was hearing a defamation suit filed by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP and senior advocate Pinaki Misra against advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai.
Dehadrai has been accusing Misra of being in a conspiracy to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the hearing, Justice Jasmeet Singh said an allegation that someone conspired against the Prime Minister, cannot be made irresponsibly and needs to be based on cogent and substantial reasons.
The High Court told Dehadrai’s counsel that it had no problem with his exercise of freedom of expression but what he was saying had serious consequences as it affected the highest office of the country.
“These are very serious allegations against the PM. You can’t be trigger happy. I have a problem here. You are alleging serious allegations of conspiracy against the PM by a sitting MP. You explain it or I will injunct you,” the HC said.
The court further said that it cannot permit “trigger happy” accusations of there being a conspiracy against the Prime Minister.
“It is a very limited issue which is bothering me. When you say conspiracy against the PM, it is a very serious issue. You can’t be trigger happy. You may say plaintiff is a politician and he can’t be thin skinned, I agree with that. But what you are alleging is very serious,” it said.
Misra has sued Dehadrai for levelling allegations of corruption against him and called him “Canning Lane”, “Odia Babu” and “Dalal of Puri”.
During the proceedings, the counsel of Misra also pointed out that Dehadrai’s relationship with expelled Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra had ended acrimoniously.
Misra’s counsel also referenced Dehadrai’s statements, pointing out accusations made against Misra, including the alleged involvement in a conspiracy targeting the PM.
In response, Dehadrai’s counsel cited the close ties between Misra and Mahua Moitra as the basis for the allegations. But when Dehadrai’s counsel was asked to substantiate the allegations of conspiracy by a MP against the PM, they could not provide any concrete evidence.
“These are serious allegations about PM of a country. You can’t be trigger happy, right? You’re making serious allegations of conspiracy by a MP against PM, you substantiate it or we’ll injunct,” the court said.
Earlier Mahua Moitra had also sued Dehadrai for defamation.
With inputs from agencies
Link to article –
Conspiracy against Prime Minister is offence under IPC, it is treason: Delhi High Court
