FIR filed against Vasai Lawyer for Sharing Dhruv Rathee Video Criticising PM Modi On WhatsApp Group
Mumbai: The Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police in Maharashtra have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against advocate Adesh Bansode for allegedly sharing a video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee that criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha elections.
On May 20, Adesh Bansode, who also serves as the Maharashtra secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, shared a link to Dhruv Rathee's video titled 'Mind of a Dictator' in the Bar Association of Vasai WhatsApp group, accompanied by the message "Do watch the video before going to vote." This action occurred during the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
After receiving a complaint from another lawyer regarding the "objectionable" nature of the video shared by Bansode, the police initiated a suo motu complaint and filed an FIR on May 21.
According to the FIR, registered based on a complaint by a head constable of the secret branch of MBVV Police, the video and its accompanying message made false statements about Lok Sabha election candidates and attempted to influence voters, thus violating the prohibitory orders issued by MBVV Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey between May 18 and May 20 for the smooth conduct of the general elections.
Bansode has labeled the FIR as illegal and alleged it as a move by the state to suppress people's voices. He claimed that proper legal procedures were not followed before filing the FIR under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Citing CrPC Section 195, Bansode argued that it is mandatory for the police to obtain prior permission from the concerned court before registering an FIR under Section 188 of the IPC. He further questioned whether the police would be lodging cases against all the individuals who watched, liked, and shared the video, stating his protest against what he deems an illegal FIR.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
