The Delhi High Court dismissed public interest litigation(PIL) against opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal, and Akhilesh Yadav and ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Election Commission of India (ECI) to register a complaint and investigate and prosecute these leaders for allegedly making misleading and false comments with the intent to damage the image and credibility of India.
The bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh said, while dismissing the plea, that Don’t underestimate the wisdom of the voters.
“They know who is speaking the truth and who is not sailing the truth. Don’t involve us in this political thicket. Someone will lead and someone will mislead. Let them take a call. If they are aggrieved, they will file their petition. They know how to approach the court,” the court observed.
The plea also requested the court to order the removal of alleged false and misleading statements made by these leaders from electronic and social media platforms. The plea, filed by Surjit Singh Yadav through counsels Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh and Mahesh Kumar, claimed that the factually incorrect statements by the leaders had created a lasting negative impact on readers/viewers nationwide, including the petitioner. This negative image not only affected the perception of the Central Government but also influenced the voting behavior of the petitioner.
The plea argued that these deliberate attempts to tarnish the image of the Central Government had broader implications, potentially impacting foreign investment, tourism, and fostering an atmosphere of unrest and disorder in the country.
