Shobha Karandlaje v. The State Rep By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 05.09.2024

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN and Crl.M.P(MD).No.6731 of 2024 Shobha Karandlaje ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The State Rep.by The Sub Inspector of Police, Cyber Crime Police Station, Madurai City, Crime No.24 of 2024 2.Thiagarajan ... Respondents Prayer: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C., pleased to call for the records of FIR No.24 of 2024 registered at Cyber Crime Police Station, Madurai City and quash the same against the petitioner/accused.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Aruna Shyam, Senior Counsel for M/s.Hariprasad R For R1 : Mr.P.S.Raman Advocate General Assisted by Mr.K.M.D.Muhilan Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 1/6

O R D E R

Pursuant to the complaint given by one Thiagarajan, Madurai City Police, CCB-III, registered a case in Crime No.24 of 2024 dated 20.03.2024 against the petitioner herein for the alleged offences under Sections 153, 153(A), 505(i)(b), 505(ii) of IPC. 2.

The complaint centers around certain statement made by the petitioner herein in the press conference implicating persons from Tamil Nadu for the bomb blast occurred in a hotel at Bangalore. Alleging that the complaint is not sustainable, the petitioner has preferred a petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C., to quash the complaint stating that her statement was not made with any intention to create enmity or disrupt. Soon after the said alleged offensive statement, she has given clarification retracting her remarks through tweet expressing her regret and she pray for forgiveness.

3.

When the petition for quash the FIR came up for consideration, the petitioner has come forward to file an affidavit to reiterate her regret.

2/6

4.

The learned Advocate General, on instructions from the Government, reports that the State after considering the profound apology made by the petitioner herein through affidavit, has taken policy decision not to pursue the matter further. The petitioner herein in her affidavit had stated as below:- "3.I state that the alleged comment made by me about the people of Tamil Nadu while addressing the media about the Rameshwaram cafe bomb blast case at Bengaluru, was made without any intention to hurt the sentiments and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu. Having understood that the comments made by me has hurt the sentiments and feelings of some people of Tamil Nadu, I have already retracted my previous comments and tendered my profound apologies through social media platforms.

4.I state that I have the highest respect and regard to the history, rich culture, tradition to the people of Tamil Nadu and I had or have no intention whatsoever to hurt the sentiments of people of Tamil Nadu by any conduct of mine. Hence, I hereby once again 3/6

tender my apology to the people of Tamil Nadu for having caused any hurt from my comments.

The same may kindly be taken on record in the interest of justice.

5.

This has been accepted by the Government on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu and had expressed the decision not to pursue the matter further.

6.

In the light of the above fact, the complaint in Crime No.24 of 2024 on the file of the Cyber Crime Police Station, Madurai stands quashed. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed. Consequently, the connected Criminal Miscellaneous Petition is closed. 05.09.2024 Index : Yes/No rpl To 1.The Sub Inspector of Police, 4/6

Cyber Crime Police Station, Madurai City, 2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.

5/6

Dr.G.JAYACHANDRAN,J.

rpl 05.09.2024 6/6