Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav, has informed a trial court that he has filed a petition with the Supreme Court to transfer the criminal defamation case against him. The case revolves around his alleged remark that "only Gujaratis can be thugs." The matter is expected to be taken up by the Supreme Court on November 6, PTI reported.
Yadav, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), requested exemption from appearing in the court of additional metropolitan magistrate DJ Parmar, who had summoned him on September 22. The court adjourned the case and scheduled it for a hearing on December 2.
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The lawyer representing complainant Haresh Mehta argued that since the Supreme Court has not yet taken up the matter or issued any directives, the trial court should proceed with the case in Yadav's absence.
One of the reasons for seeking exemption was Yadav's official engagement on the day and his filing of a petition under section 406 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before the Supreme Court to transfer the case. According to the status obtained from the Supreme Court's website, the transfer petition is tentatively listed for November 6.
In his exemption application, Yadav emphasized that he is a law-abiding citizen and the deputy chief minister of Bihar, residing at his official address in Patna. He cited pressing official commitments related to overseeing important projects for the welfare of the general public, especially in preparation for upcoming religious festivities in the state, as reasons for his inability to attend court proceedings.
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Yadav also noted that his transfer petition before the Supreme Court is likely to be addressed on November 6 and requested that further proceedings be conducted in the presence of his lawyer, without any objections.
The case against Yadav stems from a complaint filed by Haresh Mehta, a 69-year-old social worker and businessman from Ahmedabad, based on Yadav's statement made in Patna on March 21. In this statement, Yadav made controversial remarks about Gujaratis, referring to them as "thugs" and insinuating that their fraudulent activities would be forgiven. Mehta claimed that these remarks defamed and humiliated the entire Gujarati community and sought the maximum punishment for Yadav, arguing that such comparisons cause people to view Gujaratis with suspicion.
