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Synopsis

The Madras High Court has recently quashed the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Tamil Nadu Police against publisher and political commentator Badri Seshadri for his "adverse comments" against the Chief Justice of India during a YouTube interview.

The interview centered around the agitation that is going on in Manipur and the suo motu cognizance that was taken by the Chief Justice of India in this regard.

The bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh, in the order dated September 19, stated, "The judiciary has very broad shoulders to take any criticism unless the criticism results indirectly interfering with the administration of justice".

He held that Seshadri might have gone overboard while making certain comments against the CJI, however, the comments made by him should be looked at, from the context in which they were made.

"According to the petitioner, the judiciary must not poke its nose on the functions that are exclusively within the domain of the executive," Justice Venkatesh highlighted. 

He added that it was while expressing this view, Seshadri had used certain expressions which were seemingly a verbal attack made on the Chief Justice of India. 

Court also took into consideration the affidavit filed by Seshadri regretting the statement made by him in the interview.

In view of the same, court held that since Seshadri had expressed regret for the statement made by him, therefore, the curtains must be drawn. "No useful purpose will be served in continuing with the investigation in this case," the single judge bench opined. 

However, while directing Seshadri to not repeat such instances in future, it cautioned him to be more careful, while expressing himself in a public platform.

Seshadri was arrested on July 29, 2023, following the said YouTube interview. In the interview, he suggested that, given the Supreme Court's willingness to intervene if the Central government couldn't restore peace in Manipur, one could "hand a gun" to the CJI and see if peace gets restored in the region.

He was granted bail by a local court on August 1, 2023.

Case Title: Mr.Badhrisheshathiri v. State and Another