BackDelhi court issues bailable warrant against Tharoor for 'scorpion on Shivling' remark
The court issued the warrant against the Congress leader for 27 NovemberThe magistrate imposed a fine of ₹500 on the complainant, BJP leader Rajiv Babbar, for non-appearance
PremiumNew Delhi: A Delhi court has issued a bailable warrant against Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor for his non-appearance in the court in a criminal defamation complaint against him on the alleged “scorpion on Shivling" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The criminal complaint was filed by BJP leader Rajiv Babbar.
“Further, neither the accused nor his counsel is present. Under these circumstances, taking a lenient view, issue bailable warrants against the accused in the sum of ₹5,000 and the notice to his surety. Process be issued within one week," the order reads.
The court has further directed the complainant to also deposit ₹500 for non-appearance. The money will be deposited with Delhi State Legal Services Authority, Central District Tis Hazari court.
"Still, taking a lenient view, instead of dismissing the present complaint for reasons of non-appearance of complainant, he is burdened with a cost of ₹500 to be deposited with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Central District, Tis Hazari Court," it added.
In October last year, Tharoor had claimed that an unnamed RSS leader had compared Prime Minister Modi to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivling". He termed it an "extraordinarily striking metaphor". He was granted bail in the case in June on a personal bond of ₹20,000 after he appeared before the court and moved an application, PTI reported.
The court will next hear the matter on 27 November.
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