Big relief to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as Supreme Court clears defamation complaint against him

The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the defamation complaint against RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav over his alleged "only Gujaratis can be thungs" remark. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan cleared the complaint. 

Who filed the complaint

The criminal defamation complaint was filed against Tejashwi Yadav after he was reported to have commented that "only Gujaratis can be thugs." The complaint was filed before a magistrate court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat by Haresh Mehta, the vice president of an organisation called the All India Anti-Corruption and Crime Preventive Council. Mehta stated that RJD leader's remark caused "mental and physical harm" to Gujaratis and urged the magistrate court to summon Yadav. 

Former Bihar Deputy CM moved SC

The accused former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister eventually moved the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of the defamation trial from Gujarat to a 'neutral place.'

Withdrawl of statement
 

The Court asked the RJD leader whether he was willing to withdraw the remarks in question and called for  specific statement in that Regard. RJD leader on January 29 submitted a formal affidavit withdrawing his alleged remark, paving the way for the resolution of the legal dispute.

Background of case

The defamation complaint stemmed from Tejashwi Yadav's remarks made during a media interaction in Patna in March 2023, where he allegedly stated, "Only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud will be fogiven."