HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court expressed its ire over Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind for uploading offensive posts on social media that might cause enmity and disturbances among different groups in the society.
However, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Friday directed the Banjara Hills police not to take any coercive steps against Arvind and directed the MP to refrain from uploading offensive posts on social media.
Justice Bhuyan was hearing a petition filed by Arvind, seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in the Banjara Hills police station for uploading an offensive post on social media by morphing the cartoon of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.
N. Ramachandra Rao, BJP leader and counsel appearing for Aravind, explained that the petitioner did not intend to defame anyone by the social media post, but only wanted to question the decisions of the state government.
Pratap Reddy, public prosecutor of Telangana, informed the court that Arvind uploaded derogatory, humiliating and offensive posts, not only of politicians but of police officers also, due to which the police officers were not able to discharge their legitimate duties. He pleaded before the court to direct the MP to maintain some restraint while posting anything on social media.
Annoyed by the offensive posts of Arvind, the court said, “How can a person holding a responsible position upload offensive posting? The MP should have exercised some restraint in making offensive social media posts, that too against an elected leader,” Justice Bhuyan observed.
In its order, the court said, “The court has seen the photocopy of the social media post, posted by the MP. Though the same may not be in good taste, particularly in respect of an elected leader who is holding a high constitutional post, nevertheless, the allegation made and the registration of the FIR, prima facie appear to have been exaggerated, no criminal offence is made, particularly under Section 153 IPC.”
Meanwhile, while dealing with another petition, Justice Bhuyan directed the magistrate to release former MLA Bodige Shoba, who was arrested by the Karimnagar police in connection with a case of BJP state president Bandi Sanjay's 'Jagaran' and produced before the court which sent her to a 14-day judicial remand. The court also directed the magistrate to get a surety of Rs 25,000 for her release.
