The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted transit anticipatory bail to Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson and Goa Standing Counsel Prashant Umrao in the case filed by Tamil Nadu police over a tweet he made about alleged attacks on migrant workers in the southern state.
While Umrao sought relief for a period of 12 weeks, Justice Jasmeet Singh stated that such a luxury could not be permitted and granted him relief until March 20.
“How can I grant you transit anticipatory bail for 12 weeks?” asked the Court.
“I’m being hunted like a witch. Give me at least 6 weeks,” Umrao’s lawyer stated.
“There is no way. It can’t be such a luxury, can it? “The Court made it abundantly clear.
“I am the only person against whom a FIR has been filed in Tuticorin,” the counsel added.
Senior Counsel Sanjay Hegde, representing the Tamil Nadu government, stated that Umrao has a habit of making unsubstantiated allegations and inflammatory tweets and then deleting them without providing any explanation.
“He has a history of sending out violent tweets. He is Goa’s standing counsel. He is a respected individual. Freedom of speech does not entail setting fire to a crowded theatre. He has a history of sending such tweets and then deleting them without even a clarification,” Hegde stated.
“I will only see to it that he receives proper redress. I will only make certain that he has access to justice,” The single-judge responded.
“I believe he should be given adequate time. Transit anticipatory bail is granted to the applicant until March 20. The applicant should provide the counsel for Tamil Nadu with his phone number “the Court ruled.
Umrao was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police for spreading rumours on social media about the alleged “killing” of migrant workers from Bihar working in Tamil Nadu.
Umrao has been charged with violating IPC Sections 153 (provocation for rioting), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief).
In his tweet, Umrao had shared a picture of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Tejashwi Yadav with Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin stating that “12 migrant workers from Bihar were hung to death in Tamil Nadu for speaking in Hindi”.
