Man gets bail in FB post case
Patna, Oct 7 : A 28-year-old man has been released on bail by a court here after he spent nearly three months in jail in connection with a Facebook post case where he allegedly defamed a former DGP of Bihar, his lawyer said on Sunday.
Jitendra Kumar, who was arrested on July 11, was granted bail by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Kumari Vijaya on Friday, his counsel Manish Shankar said.
"My client was named by Aditya Kumar, the main accused in the case, against whom an FIR had been lodged at Kotwali police station in the city. Aditya had been accused of putting up an objectionable post on the Facebook page of retired IPS officer Abhayanand," Shankar said.
"Unfortunately, Jitendra was picked up by the police and put behind the bars merely on the basis of a statement given by Aditya. Till date, the police has not been able to show any incriminating object in Jitendra's possession nor did it bother to record his statement wherein my client would have got an opportunity to prove his innocence," Shankar said.
The court order follows a submission by the Kotwali police stating it wants to close the investigation as the FIR itself appears to have been lodged on error of facts, Shankar said, adding that this proves Jitendra's innocence and he may be acquitted in due course.
"However, Jintendra has spent 86 days in jail and his career as a private bank employee is in dire straits. We hope the court takes note of the manner in which the police have proceeded in the matter. They lodged an FIR in a jiffy, based on a complaint received on e-mail by a third party, not the aggrieved IPS officer," Shankar said.
On the basis of the statement of the named accused, the police picked up my client and made him languish in jail for three months without him committing any crime, the counsel said.
On condition of anonymity, police sources said the "error of facts" in the FIR was established during a high-level inquiry that was ordered by top officials who took note of the complaint that Jitendra Kumar was falsely implicated.
Incidentally, Jitendra Kumar is the next-door neighbour and reported friend of Super 30 founder Anand Kumar.
Super 30 has on several occasions claimed that since it's inception in 2002 nearly 500 students hailing from economically poor sections have cracked JEE and made it to different IITs.
Incidentally, Anand Kumar and Abhayanand had worked together in the initial years of Super 30, only to go separate ways in the later stages and engage in a bitter feud.
The retired DGP has since then launched his own Super 30 classes in districts like Patna and Gaya, besides another coaching venture for engineering aspirants from the minority sections.
A biopic based on Kumar's life, with Hrithik Roshan playing the protagonist, is scheduled for release early next year.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
