The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain Karnataka's petition challenging quashing of a first information report (FIR) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya in a case of spreading fake news regarding the suicide of a farmer in Haveri district in the State.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vindo Chandran dismissed the plea challenging the Karnataka High Court decision and cautioned against bringing political matters to court.
"Do not politicise the matter. Fight these battles outside the court!," CJI Gavai remarked.
On November 14, 2024, the High Court had temporarily stayed the FIR against Surya. It quashed the case in December 2024.
On November 8, 2024, Surya had posted on his X handle that a farmer in the State had committed suicide after his land was taken over by the Waqf board.
"A farmer in Haveri commits suicide after finding his land taken over by Waqf! In their haste to appease minorities, CM Siddaramaiah and Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan have unleashed catastrophic effects in Karnataka that are becoming impossible to contain with every passing day," his post read.
He had also posted links to a news story from a local portal that made such claim. The police subsequently issued a clarification saying the deceased had committed suicide due to mounting debts. Surya was then booked Haveri Cybercrime, Economic and Narcotic Offences Police, for spreading fake news under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Meanwhile, the Court made a similar remark in a case seeking contempt of court action against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks on the top court's decision in the teachers recruitment scam case.
"We have sought consent from the Attorney General. If the matter can be kept on board later," Senior Advocate Maninder Singh said on behalf of the petitioner.
"Are you so sure you will get the consent? We should dismiss it now right. Don't politicise such cases. Political battles, fight outside the court," it remarked, while directing that the matter be listed after four weeks.