Posted by New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that levelling allegations of conspiring against the prime minister is tantamount to treason and such allegations cannot be levelled irresponsibly without any cogent and substantive reason.
High Court was hearing a defamation suit filed by BJD MP Pinaki Misra against lawyer Dehadrai
Justice Jasmeet Singh said this while hearing a defamation suit filed by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Member of Parliament (MP) Pinaki Misra against lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai seeking an injunction against him over his allegedly defamatory tweets and statements making corruption allegations against him, calling him names and that he along with expelled Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra conspired against the prime minister.
The High Court said that “the allegation of conspiring against the prime minister prima facie is a serious allegation and it tantamount to treason.”
“The allegation of conspiring against the prime minister cannot be made irresponsibly and needs to be based on cogent and substantive reasons,” the court said.
The High Court further told the counsel representing Dehadrai that he should await the outcome of his complaint he has filed before the authorities and cannot be “trigger happy.”
Conspiracy against prime minister is an offence against state: High Court
“When you say conspiracy against the prime minister, it is troublesome. You can’t be trigger happy … Conspiracy against the prime minister is an offence against the state, it is treason. It has serious repercussions on the general public … Wait for the investigation (to conclude) before you say all this” the High Court told Dehadrai’s counsel, news agency PTI reported.
Why has the BJD MP filed defamation suit against Dehadrai?
The BJD MP has said in defamation suit that he shares a close friendship with expelled Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, a former partner of Dehadrai, and after they separated, Dehadrai had levelled allegations of corruption against Moitra and also referred to him as “the MP from Orissa” and “a close associate of Mahua Moitra”.
Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December last year following allegations of corruption by Dehadrai that she took bribes for asking questions in Parliament from businessman Darshan Hiranandani.
Moitra and Dehadrai have also filed defamation suits against each other in the High Court.
The High Court said that the CBI is already looking into the allegations and the suits of Dehadrai and Moitra is also pending before the High Court.
Dehadrai and his counsel assured the High Court that he would not make further statements in relation to the BJD MP “conspiring” against the prime minister till the next date of hearing and the High Court recorded the assurance and took the statement on record and issued notices to Dehadrai and two media houses on BJD MP’s defamation suit.