R-Day violence: SC protects Shashi Tharoor, others from arrest

New Delhi, Feb 9 : In a big relief to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and five other journalists, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed their arrest in multiple FIRs against them over their alleged tweets in connection with violence in Delhi during the tractor rally on Republic Day.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, contended before a bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde that tweets published by Tharoor and others had a horrendous effect and insisted that he could bring on record material to establish this.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, submitted before the bench, “What prejudice will be caused if protection from the arrest is given to the petitioners”. He cited that sedition has also been added.
The counsel for petitioner argued: “What have they done to get charged with sedition?” Mehta opposed this argument saying that wrong tweets and reporting about a farmer being shot dead when he died of accidental injuries, had an horrendous impact during the violence.
Mukul Rohatgi, representing The Caravan magazine, said that the client has already withdrawn the tweet and put out a correct version, yet FIRs have been lodged against the journalists. Rohatgi insisted that his client has not hurt any religious sentiments.