The Supreme Court on Friday said that the criminal defamation case against Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor for his controversial “scorpion on Shivling” remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be closed.
Photo: IANS
The Supreme Court on Friday said that the criminal defamation case against Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor for his controversial “scorpion on Shivling” remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be closed.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Nongmeikapam Kotishwar Singh observed that public figures, including politicians, administrators, and judges, should have a “thicker skin” and not be overly sensitive to such statements.
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The court extended its earlier interim stay on trial court proceedings and adjourned the matter.
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Tharoor has challenged the Delhi High Court’s August 29, 2024 order, which had refused to quash the case and directed him to appear before the trial court.
The defamation complaint, filed by BJP leader Rajeev Babbar, concerns Tharoor’s 2018 comment at the Bangalore Literature Festival, where he allegedly referred to PM Modi as a “scorpion sitting on a Shivling.” Tharoor’s counsel contended that he merely quoted a line from a 2012 Caravan magazine article.
The trial court had earlier issued a summons based on the complaint, which alleged that the statement hurt religious sentiments and defamed the Prime Minister.
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