Derogatory remark against Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti: SC refuses to quash FIRs against Amish Devgan

New Delhi:  The Supreme Court on Monday refused to quash FIRs against TV anchor Amish Devgan for his alleged defamatory remark against Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti during a show on June 15 but said he will get protection from any coercive action if he continues to cooperate with the probe.
A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna also transferred all FIRs filed against Devgan in different states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana, to Ajmer in Rajasthan.
The apex court had earlier granted Devgan protection from any coercive action in connection with the FIRs.
Several FIRs were lodged against Devgan for using a derogatory term for the Sufi saint in the news debate show called ”Aar Paar” on his channel on June 15. Devgan later tweeted an apology saying he was actually referring to Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji and inadvertently ended up naming Chisti.
Devgan through his lawyer Mrinal Bharti had moved the top court seeking quashing of the FIRs saying it was a slip of the tongue and he had already expressed regret for the ‘inadvertent” error.
He had told the apex court that “none of the FIRs said that public order was being disturbed”.