Ahmedabad: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav finds himself entangled in a defamation case, as an Ahmedabad court issues summons, calling upon him to appear on September 22. The case stems from remarks made by Tejashwi in which he referred to Gujaratis as “thugs.”
The legal predicament unfolds against the backdrop of a comment made by Tejashwi, wherein he aired his reaction to news concerning Nirav Modi. He remarked, “Give money to LIC and Indian banks, then who will be responsible if he runs away? When his friends do corruption, his parrot does not come out of the cage. In today’s country’s situation, only Gujaratis can be thugs.” These words led to a criminal defamation case lodged by a businessman in Ahmedabad.
Haresh Mehta, an entrepreneur based in Ahmedabad, filed the case on March 21 this year, asserting that Tejashwi’s statement demeaned the entire Gujarati community. He expressed that such a portrayal deeply wounded his sentiments, thereby demanding appropriate action against Tejashwi.
Testimonies and evidence have further solidified the case against Tejashwi. Reports indicate that 15 witnesses have testified against him, with the complainant submitting a video recording of Tejashwi’s statement to the court. The Additional Metropolitan Magistrate DJ Parmar’s examination of the evidence has led to the conclusion that Tejashwi has prima facie committed an offense under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Beyond this defamation case, Tejashwi is also grappling with other legal matters. He stands accused in a land case linked to a job offer within the railways. Allegations suggest that he was involved in acquiring land through a company named after himself and his mother, Rabri Devi, as part of a scam. Tejashwi has undergone questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with this case. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on 24 locations, including Tejashwi’s residence in Delhi, unearthing substantial amounts of cash and jewelry.