ASHIS NANDY Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition was filed to quash FIR No.35/2013, registered at Police Station Ashok Nagar Jaipur (South), Rajasthan, registered by respondent No.4 for the objectionable comments made by the petitioner in the Jaipur Literary Conference, which is an annual event. Subsequently, one other FIR bearing FIR No.53/2013 was registered at Police Station Mahamandi, District Jodhpur, Rajasthan and a private criminal complaint was filed in the State of Bihar bearing C.C. No.248/2013, registered at Patna, Bihar. The petitioner has filed an application for amendment of the writ petition incorporating both the subsequent FIRs and seeking quashing of the same also.

(2.) We have heard Mr.Sunil Fernandes, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, Dr.K.S. Chauhan, learned Senior Counsel appearing for respondent No.4 and Mr.S.D. Sanjay, ASG appearing for the Union of India.

(3.) Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is a renowned intellectual and clinical psychologist, social theorist and critic of universal acclaim. We, however, cautioned the learned Senior Counsel that the celebrity status of the petitioner will not deter us from finding fault with him, if he has made objectionable comments.