After Kannada actor Chetan Kumar was arrested for his tweet that said that Hindutva was “built on lies” and that it could be “defeated by truth”, and his Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status subsequently revoked for the same, the Karnataka High Court by way of interim relief has stayed the operation of the order passed by the Union government cancelling his OCI status.
The next date of hearing has been set as June 2.
According to a report by LiveLaw, the court has granted relief on the condition that Kumar submits an affidavit of undertaking to the court stating that he would encourage restraint on the tweets qua judiciary and matters that are sub-judice and would further undertake that he would delete the tweets that are against the judiciary and matters that are sub-judice.
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The News Minute reported that the actor recently received a letter from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), dated March 28, directing him to return his OCI card within 15 days of receiving the letter.
The cancellation of his OCI status was the result of a show-cause notice issued to him by the FRRO in June 2022 which stated that he made “derogatory comments against judges and committed other anti-national activities”. He was asked for an explanation as to why his OCI status should not be cancelled.
The report by LiveLaw noted that a detailed reply was submitted by Kumar which was found to be "bereft of plausible explanation" by the authorities, passed the impugned order. Following which, Kumar approached the court.
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"The acts of the petitioner must be established that it is inimical to the national interest, for which the respondents need to justify by way of filing the statement of objections," the bench noted and stayed the order.
