SC Rejects Congress Leader Khera's Plea to Quash Case Over Remarks on PM Modi

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea by Congress leader Pawan Khera for quashing criminal proceedings initiated against him in connection with remarks regarding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta told Khera's counsel senior advocate Salman Khurshid that an offence cannot be wished away by seeking apologies and apologies.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Uttar Pradesh government, submitted the trial must proceed as the chargesheet was ready.

The bench said it was not inclined to entertain the matter.

Khera challenged the Allahabad High Court's order refusing to quash the criminal proceedings against him over his comment against the PM made at a press conference in Mumbai.

In October last year, the court had issued notice on Khera’s plea against the Allahabad High Court order, which declined to quash criminal proceedings against him for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Khera filed the plea in the court against the order passed by the high court on August 17.

He had tendered an unconditional apology in the court for the alleged remarks.

He had introduced 'Gautam Das' in PM Narendra Modi's name on February 17, 2023.

On March 20, 2023, the court had clubbed three FIRs lodged against Khera in Assam and Uttar Pradesh for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The court transferred the matter to the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow while extending his interim bail.

The high court had dismissed Khera’s plea saying the evidence collected by the investigating officer of the case cannot be evaluated in petition filed under section 482 of CrPC for quashing the case. The Lucknow court had granted him bail in the case.

In February, the Congress spokesperson was detained by Assam police from the Delhi airport but within hours, he was ordered to be released by the top court.