Sanatana Row: SC Rejects Udhayanidhi's Argument On Clubbing Of FIRs, Says 'Cannot Equate With Media'

Sanatana Row: While hearing a plea moved by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin seeking clubbing of multiple FIRs registered against him over his "eradicate Sanatana Dharma" remark, the Supreme Court on Monday told the DMK leader that he cannot claim to be in the same position as the media.

"You (Stalin) have made the statements voluntarily," said a division bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. The observation came as Stalin cited judgements rendered by the Supreme Court in cases involving several journalists and suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma to support his case, news agency ANI reported.

The bench remarked, "After all, you have made the statements voluntarily. And the cases you cited--those were news media people who were working as per the diktats of their bosses to get TRPs. You cannot compare yourself to the media."

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Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Udhayanidhi, highlighted the case of BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, against whom multiple FIRs were lodged, over her allegedly blasphemous remarks against Prophet Mohammad, in different states and later transferred to one state.

"Nupur Sharma is a pure politician," Singhvi argued. The apex court then questioned why Stalin had filed a petition before it under Article 32 (remedies for enforcement of fundamental rights) of the Constitution instead of invoking Section 406 (power of Supreme Court to transfer cases and appeals) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The bench then ordered Stalin to amend his plea and file it under Section 406 CrPC and listed the matter for hearing in the week commencing May 6.

Earlier, the apex court frowned upon Stalin over his remarks calling for the eradication of 'Sanatana Dharma' and told him that he is "not a layman but a minister" and he should know the consequences of his remarks.

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"You abuse your rights under freedom of speech and expression and right to freedom of religion and then come to Supreme Court for protection under Article 32? Do you not know the consequences of what you said?," the bench had asked Stalin's counsel.

Udhayanidhi had likened 'Sanatana Dharma' to life-threatening diseases like malaria and dengue and called for its 'eradication'. His remarks triggered a massive political controversy across the country. It led to several criminal complaints being filed against him.

(With inputs from ANI)