Complaint in court against Markandeya Katju for remarks on Mahatma Gandhi

CHENNAI: A complaint was filed today in a court here by a Gandhian outfit, seeking launch of criminal proceedings against former Supreme Court Judge Markandeya Katju for allegedly defaming Mahatma Gandhi by his recent controversial remarks.

The complaint under CrPc, which was filed in the Tenth Metropolitan Magistrate's court, also sought proceedings against Katju for alleged offence of sedition under IPC.

Katju had recently made some controversial remarks against Gandhi in his blog.

The plaint was filed by chief of Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam, Thamizharuvi Manian through his advocate R Prabhakaran.

The complaint averred that the accused "may be tried and punished for the offences committed under section 124 A (Sedition), 499 (defamation), 500 (punishment for defamation), 501 (publishing defamatory material), 504 (provoke breach of peace), 505(2)(promoting enmity, hatred among communities) of IPC."

The article not only defamed but also tarnished the image and harmed the reputation of the Mahatma in the eyes of the general public, it alleged.

Arguing that if a retired judge of a High Court or the Supreme Court openly aired his political thoughts in the social media, the plaint said the public would believe it to be the absolute truth.

"The accused has made some derogatory statements which are capable of penetrating the young minds and he has made a mockery of the Mahatma and trivialised his efforts by dubbing him a foreign agent," the petitioner charged.

The complainant is a former Congress leader and a Tamil orator.

The matter has been posted to March 20. The court will see if prima facie an offence was made out and proceed further or dismiss complaint based on that.