SC grants pre-arrest bail to influencer accused of misquoting Rahul Gandhi
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New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to an influencer accused of misquoting a statement made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Aravind Kumar granted the bail to Raushan Sinha, saying his arrest was unnecessary and that there was no need for custodial interrogation.
The apex court set aside a Telangana High Court order which refused to grant Sinha pre-arrest bail.
Allowing Sinha's plea, the top court granted him anticipatory bail, observing that the matter could proceed without his detention.
The case stemmed from a July 1, 2024, speech in Parliament in which Gandhi reportedly said that those "who call themselves Hindus are constantly engaged in violence, hatred and lies".
The following day, Sinha posted an image of Gandhi on X with the caption: "Those who are Hindus are violent -- Rahul Gandhi."
The post triggered an online backlash, leading to a Congress worker filing a complaint at a cybercrime police station in Hyderabad.
Sinha was subsequently booked for offences relating to intentional insult, publication of false statements, and forgery under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Sinha claimed his post was "political commentary" protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and that the FIR was politically motivated to "harass and silence" him for criticising an opposition leader.
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Opposition raking up Dalit CM issue to divert attention: Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday accused the opposition of "unnecessarily stoking" the debate over a Dalit Chief Minister to deflect attention from governance.
He asserted that only the Congress has the commitment to elevate a Dalit leader to the top post.
Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara said the ongoing discussion on a Dalit Chief Minister was being amplified by opposition parties.
“This is the work of the opposition. To hide their own failures, they are raising the issue of the Chief Minister. Isn’t the administration running smoothly? Isn’t the Chief Minister governing?” he asked.
The Minister noted that for the past 10–12 days, detailed budget discussions had been held across departments and governance was progressing normally.
Parameshwara, who is a Dalit, said the Congress alone had the history and political will to make a Dalit Chief Minister.
“Yes, it must be the Congress party. Who else will do it?” he said, while clarifying that the timing of any such decision would be determined by the party high command.
On Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s media statement targeting the JD(S) and invoking social justice, Parameshwara said Siddaramaiah had earlier been part of the JD(S) and even served as its president before being expelled.
He noted that the internal history of that party was best known to those within it and declined to comment on specific internal matters.
Defending the Chief Minister’s ideological position, Parameshwara said Siddaramaiah’s politics had always been rooted in social justice and that there was nothing new or opportunistic about his stance.
The Chief Minister, he said, had consistently built his political career on that foundation.
