The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea by YouTuber Manish Kashyap seeking clubbing of FIRs and quashing of charges under the National Security Act (NSA) against him for making fake attack videos on Bihari migrants.
The bench of Chief Justice of India CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasima, and JB Pardiwala stated that the Court wasn’t dispose to use its powers under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution.
However, it simplifies that Kashyap was at liberty to approach appropriate authorities, including the National Security Agency (NSA) for remedy.
The Court stated that, “We are not inclined to use our powers under article 32. The petitioner is at liberty to approach appropriate authorities for remedy including the NSA.”
Also, during the hearing, the bench noted that Kashyap deliberately made fake videos and circulated them to spread disquiet in stable States like Tamil Nadu.
CJI Chandrachud remarked that, “He has made fake videos and circulated like this, You have stable States, you share anything and you spread disquiet in those states.”
The bench heard a plea filed by Kashyap that sought clubbing of the FIRs against him in Bihar & Tamil Nadu states. He also sought an interim anticipatory bail and quashing offense registered under National Security Act (NSA).
Last month, the State of Tamil Nadu booked Kashyap for sharing fake news about migrant workers, facilitated fabrication of videos and utilized them for perpetrating communal hatred.
Earlier, the bench sought a response as to why the NSA has been invoked against Kashyap.
The government of Tamil Nadu submitted that neither the FIRs nor the NSA charge could be quashed since Kashyap doctored the videos and used them as background clips while stating that the migrants were being beaten up and killed in Tamil Nadu.
Additionally, it was stated that when he visited Tamil Nadu, he put inflated questions to migrants only to spread disharmony, with a clear view to extend hatred. Previously, the top court allowed Kashyap to amend his plea to challenge the invocation of the NSA and indicated its inclination to transfer all the cases to Bihar.
Currently, Kashyap is in the custody of Tamil Nadu Police.
