Image source: indialegal.com
The Gujarat High Court quashed a sedition case registered against a Journalist and Editor Dhaval Rajnikant Patel for allegedly publishing a report suggesting a leadership change in Gujarat due to criticism over the rising number of COVD-19 cases in the State. According to police, Dhaval wrote an article on May 7, titled ‘Mansukh Mandaviya called by high command, chances of leadership change in Gujarat’. Following the article Patel was booked under IPC section 124 A (sedition) and Disaster Management Act section 54 (Punishment for false warning). He was arrested in May this year and had remained in Sabarmati Central Jail for 15 days. Subsequently, he moved an application before the High Court for the quashment of the complaint which was entertained and placed for final hearing. In its order, the bench of Justice Dholaria stated, “…since the present petitioner is young journalist and he has begun his career and that from the deepest corner of his heart, the petitioner has tendered apology…therefore, this court is satisfied with the apology tendered by the petitioner. Under the circumstances, this court is of the considered opinion that interest of justice would be served if the present proceedings/FIR are quashed.”
The court also cautioned Patel from writing any such article in future
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