The court of Additional Metropolitan Magistrate DJ Parmar in Ahmedabad has decided to conduct an inquiry into a criminal defamation complaint filed against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. The complaint has been filed by a social worker and businessman, Haresh Mehta, under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500.
The complaint pertains to Yadav’s alleged remark that “only Gujaratis can be thugs”. The court is likely to examine witnesses on May 20 as part of the process. Yadav, who is 33 years old, is the son of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Criminal defamation is a serious offense in India and can result in imprisonment and/or fines. The inquiry will determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial.
Yadav has been in the news recently for his political activities in Bihar. He is a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party and has been serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar since November 2020. The RJD is a key opposition party in the state and has been critical of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
The outcome of the inquiry will have important implications for Yadav’s political career and for the broader political landscape in Bihar. The case is likely to attract significant media attention in the coming weeks, as the inquiry proceeds and the case unfolds.