SC issues notice and stays defamation case against Tejashwi Yadav on his ‘Gujarati hi thag ho sakte hai’ remark

On November 06, 2023 (Monday), the Supreme Court (SC) bench consisting of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Pankaj Mithal issued notice on the petition filed by Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. The petition sought the transfer of a criminal defamation complaint against him in Ahmedabad to Delhi or any other ‘neutral venue’. The complaint was filed against him for his alleged ‘Gujarati hi thag ho sakte hai’ remark. While issuing notice, the SC bench also stayed the proceedings before the Gujarat High Court on the complaint filed under Section 406 CrPC and will be considered next on January 05, 2024. 

The petitioner (Tejashwi Yadav) is facing accusations under Section 499 and Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code whereas the allegations arise from a statement made by him during the March 2022 media address. The statement was, “Jo do thag hai naa, jo thag hai, thagi ko jo anumati hai, aaj ke desh ke halat mein dekha jayein toh sir Gujrati hi thag ho sakte hai aur uske thag ko maaf kiya jaayega. LIC ka paisa, bank ka paisa de do, fir vo log leke bhaag jaayenge, toh kaun jimmevar hoga?”