Karnataka High Court dismisses PIL seeking apology from Rahul Gandhi over Prajwal Revanna remarks
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the All India Dalit Action Committee, which sought an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly insulting the modesty of women. The PIL stemmed from Gandhi’s claim that Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna had "raped 400 women and filmed such act," and that the incident was a case of "mass rape."
A division bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice K Aravind dismissed the PIL, calling it a waste of judicial time. The court also imposed a fine on the petitioner.
During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel argued that Gandhi's statement had outraged the modesty of women, especially those from Hassan. He urged the court to issue a notice to Gandhi, stating that his remarks had cast doubt on the character of every woman in Hassan.
However, the court was not persuaded by these arguments and dismissed the plea. The petitioner's request to waive the fine was also rejected.
The PIL accused Gandhi of spreading misinformation and making unsubstantiated allegations against Revanna, which it claimed amounted to hate speech. The petitioner had called for Gandhi to issue a public apology and requested that the National Commission for Women take action against him.
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Kerala Journalist Shajan Skaria arrested for casteist remarks against CPIM MLA, released on bail
Kochi: Kerala-based journalist and editor of the online portal Marunadan Malayali, Shajan Skaria, was arrested by the Kerala Police on charges of making casteist remarks against CPIM MLA P.V. Sreenijan. The arrest was made under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after Skaria allegedly made derogatory comments while reporting on the alleged mismanagement of a sports hostel by Sreenijan, who was serving as the District Sports Council chairman at the time.
Skaria, who has faced prior accusations of Islamophobia and casteism, was taken into custody by officers from the Elamakkara Police Station in Ernakulam on Monday. However, he was later released after securing anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court of India, which overturned earlier rejections of his bail plea by both a trial court and the Kerala High Court.
In addition to his role as editor of Marunadan Malayali, Skaria is also the founder-editor of the online platform British Malayali. He has previously been arrested for allegedly spreading communal hatred through online platforms. His latest arrest follows allegations from various quarters, including whistleblower MLA P.V. Anvar, who accused the CPIM-led Kerala government of protecting Skaria.
Marunadan Malayali, the media outlet led by Skaria, has been under fire for promoting content that is often viewed as Islamophobic and casteist. The channel has also been repeatedly criticized for spreading fake news and publishing content that infringes on individuals' personal privacy.
The Kerala High Court had previously issued strong remarks about the nature and style of functioning of Marunadan Malayali, highlighting concerns over the portal's journalistic practices.
