‘Abusive posts against Prime Minister illegal’: Tripura High Court refuses to quash cases

The Tripura High Court has ruled that criminal cases against a content creator for allegedly making abusive remarks against the Prime Minister of India are not to be dismissed. Justices T Amarnath Goud and S Datta Purkayastha heard petitions from Madhabi Biswas Chakraborty, who sought to quash the FIRs and chargesheets filed against her.

The court emphasized that while political criticism is part of democracy, posting abusive or defamatory language on social media targeting the Prime Minister is illegal. The court noted the use of derogatory words against the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Tripura, alleging an intention to defame them globally. The petitioner, a content creator, argued that her statements were protected under freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.

However, the court rejected her claim, stating that freedom of speech does not protect the publication of defamatory or malicious content on social media. The court also pointed out that social media has become an integral part of people's lives, and false information can spread rapidly, causing damage to individuals' reputations.

The court ruled that the petitioner's statements could constitute defamation, leaving her free to pursue legal action for defamation.