CJP Spokesperson Saurabh Das in Legal Trouble! Madras High Court Issues Notice to Central Government and Social Media Companies

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Madras High Court against CJP spokesperson Saurabh Das on charges of making derogatory remarks against judges of the High Court and Supreme Court. Considering the gravity of the matter, the bench of Chief Justice Sushruit Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan has issued notices to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Information Technology, and the authorities of X and Instagram. The court has given all parties a deadline of six weeks to respond to this notice.

In this petition filed by Kanchipuram businessman R. Ganesh Kumar, the court has been requested to order a comprehensive investigation into the background of Saurabh Das and his family by the Union Home Ministry. The petitioner has also urged the court to direct the Ministry of Information Technology to cancel Saurabh Das’s passport and Aadhaar card and to close his social media accounts.

The petition alleges that a high-level investigation is needed into the nexus and activities between Saurabh Das, Abhijit Deepak and Neha Bora. The petitioner raises questions about why these people have united, while one claims to be a freelance legal journalist, another is a communist leader of a college students’ unity forum, and another is a person who has returned from America.

Petitioner Ganesh Kumar claimed in the court, “Saurabh Das’s family tree is linked to Nepal. This matter should be investigated. If this information is true, then he has no right to teach lessons about the government and the country’s judiciary.”

In addition, accusing Saurabh Das of defaming the judiciary including the Chief Justice of the country on social media, a demand has also been raised to file a contempt of court case against him. According to the petitioner, Das has been using social media only to spread disorder, anarchy and hatred against the ruling system. On Friday, the bench of the court accepted this petition for consideration and issued directions to all concerned parties to clarify their stand.