Don't underestimate wisdom of voters, says Delhi HC while rejecting PIL to prosecute Rahul Gandhi
PIL also demanded prosecution of Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav for misleading statements
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Wednesday, rejecting the plea seeking direction for the Union Government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to register a complaint and prosecute politicians Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and Akhilesh Yadav.
The PIL, filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, a self-proclaimed social worker, alleged that the three politicians made misleading and false statements with the intent to damage India's image and credibility.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora closed the PIL, noting that the alleged defamed industrialists and individuals have the means to approach the court and file appropriate proceedings. The court also stated that the principle of relaxation of locus standi was not warranted in this case and emphasized the wisdom of Indian voters.
During the hearing, Acting Chief Justice Manmohan advised Yadav's counsel against underestimating the voters' wisdom and stated that aggrieved parties could take legal action if necessary. The court expressed its reluctance to interfere in matters where individuals are misled or led, asserting that such issues should be left for the people to address.
The PIL also sought a direction to political parties Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Samajwadi Party, as well as media platforms News 24, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, to remove the allegedly false and misleading statements from their respective platforms.
Yadav's plea argued that the misleading statements created confusion and negatively impacted the image of the Central Government, potentially affecting foreign investment, tourism, and promoting anarchy in the nation.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
