Interesting arguments before Apex court bench
MP Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju points out fracture and AP says ‘self-inflicted’
Political positions could be denied to persons in political competition based on likes or dislikes of the high command in a party. That is also a kind of victimization, which cannot be litigated in courts of law or anywhere. Poaching MLAs and MPs by a rival political party and cutthroat fights in public fields are inevitable politics. Splits and defections are common. But depriving the life and liberty or other rights is not acceptable.
Also read: Mukul Rohatgi explains why MP Raju should not be examined in Andhra Pradesh
In that context, MP Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju’s personal liberty has been deprived of by the rulers for political reasons. The Police machinery should have independently acted on legal issues before arresting an MP for what he spoke to some TV channels.
The Supreme Court has judiciously protected the personal liberty of the MP by granting bail. It is a great relief to this political victim, YSR Congress MP K. Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju from Andhra Pradesh, who was arrested by Guntur CID on May 14 for alleged sedition and promotion of communal hatred over his speeches.
When all the videos and records are available with police, where is the requirement of arrest, custody and interrogation? Why not the medical condition of MP be considered? These questions were positively responded to by the court.
Apex court Bench of Justices Vineet Saran and BR Gavai rightly felt that custodial interrogation would not be required as all statements of Petitioner are on record. MP Raju underwent heart surgery last year. The bench also opined based on the medical report from Army Hospital, Secundarabad, that possibilities of the petitioner’s ill-treatment in custody cannot be ruled out.
Also read: How can criticism be seditious?
Bench cautioned Raju not to give media interviews and make press statements during the period of investigation. He must cooperate with the investigation and should not influence the witnesses. He should respond whenever he is called upon by the Investigating Officer. He shall be given at least 24 hrs notice by IO.He should also furnish personal bond of Rupees one lakh and provide two securities of the like amount before the trial court within one week.
The Supreme Court felt that trial court should have considered his bail case as the concurrent jurisdiction is available to it under Section 439 CrPC along with the HC. The SC also felt that the High Court ought to have considered the bail application on merits. Fortunately, without leaving it to HC, the SC thought it fit to consider the matter on merits. The SC said: “The FIR was lodged only after detailed inquiry by State CID. Considering the totality of the circumstances and the health of the Petitioner, specially that he had undergone heart bypass surgery, we deem it just and proper that the Petitioner be enlarged on bail.“
Also read: Raghurama’s cell chat key evidence, says CID
Arguments on injuries and torture
On behalf of Raju, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued that Raju’s statements are mere criticism of actions of State and in no case can the statements be classified as sedition and made punishable under Section 124A IPC. He stated that the Section has been included to make the offences non-bailable. He also submitted that Raju is being tortured in custody, as evident from medical reports. Thus, he should be released on bail and the investigation may be transferred to the CBI.
Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the State of AP argued that the SLP should be dismissed on the ground that the Petitioner has an alternate remedy of filing a bail application before trial court.
It is surprising that even after the Army Hospital’s report showing injuries, the state argued they are perhaps self-inflicted. He says he does not doubt the report of Army Hospital which shows fracture, but quotes Government. Rohatgi pointed out that even as per the medical report submitted by the Army Hospital, there are several injuries on his body, including a fracture. He urged the Court to take suo moto cognizance of his injuries and direct a CBI inquiry into the same.”My allegation of torture in office of CID is proved. This is what they are doing to a sitting MP. Imagine what will they do to citizens,” he remarked.The Bench however stated that Raju is merely a Petitioner in its eyes and that the Court is not concerned if he’s a sitting MP or an ordinary citizen. Rohatgi then clarified, “This matter needs to be investigated by the CBI. My point is if they’re doing this to the sitting MP, then they can do this to anyone.“
Also read: Raghurama Kirshnam Raju approaches SC for Bail
“If police wanted to torture him, would they do it on the second toe of the foot? You have immense knowledge, you know how things work. No police would ever treat an MP in this manner,” Dave said.
“It would be absurd to argue that someone within one evening will do all of this to himself,” Rohatgi rebutted.
Dave then submitted that the State will not contradict the report of the Army, however, it must be noted that the report in question is inconclusive and does not conclude any injuries of gravity.He stated that the report of Medical Board which submitted its report to the High Court and that of the Army Hospital which the Court is perusing today are correct. However, the injuries may have been self-inflicted.
“This gentleman when he was asked to travel to the hospital in an ambulance, he refused. He travelled in his car… All throughout he was waving at people, showing his foot, and giving interviews. There was no injury to his foot then.
The MP’s conduct to travel in his own car for 300 km with his own security and his foot up like that may have caused it. Nobody would treat MP like this,” Dave told the Bench.
He added,”The fracture in his foot is an un-displaced fracture. The report does not show whether it was an old or new fracture. The Army report shows it. On 17th, he didn’t have it.“
Also read: AP CID releases official note on Raghurama’s arrest
Invocation of Sedition charges
Rohatgi stressed that there was no incitement or call for violence in the speeches given by Mr. Raju, and therefore there was no basis for invoking the offence of sedition under Section 124A IPC.Referring to the contents of the FIR, he submitted that the allegation against Raju is that he has created hatred between two communities. “This can never be sedition. This only shows that he is outspoken in his criticism against the leadership. This is elementary… Sedition means to create disaffection and to overthrow the government. That is not here,” he argued quoting the judgment of SC in Kedarnath Singh v. State of Bihar. He alleged that the provision (Section 124A IPC) has been invoked only with a view to blocking bail for the MP.
Dave on the other hand pointed out that not once has Raju denied uttering the impugned statements.”You have to see if the offences are prime facie committed or not. If he (Raju) has not denied that, then the Court cannot interfere…Whether he is guilty of sedition, all of this will have to be done into by trial,” he submitted. Dave continued that the problem is not that the Petitioner made statements against the Chief Minister but, the issue is that he did not limit himself to fair criticism and tried to incite hatred between two communities and provoked them to ‘kill each other’.
In this regard, he referred to certain statements made Raju that—the YSR Congress was only going to vaccinate Christians and Reddys, and volunteers should be thrashed.”Is this the responsibility of the MP? He is asking for people to be thrashed…He tried to stoke hatred against Christian and Reddy communities. They look orchestrated and an attempt to cause disaffection against the government. They squarely within the contours of S. 124A,” Dave submitted.
He added, “And coming from someone who is an MP. His word carries weight. And that too during COVID times. We don’t want unrest during such difficult times. We gave him time and told him that what he was doing was wrong and he should correct himself. But he crossed all boundaries.“
Senior Advocate V. Giri, also appearing for the State, suggested that there should be a cessation of all such interviews. “The atmosphere is already surcharged, and it shouldn’t be spoiled further,” he said.
Also read: Raghurama complains CID used third degree on him
Maintainability of SLP
Dave urged the Top Court to dismiss the special leave petition filed under Article 136 of the Constitution as alternative remedies are available to the Petitioner. He stated that the High Court has directed the Petitioner to go to the ‘Competent Court’ and the same cannot be interfered with under Article 136 as the matter has not been decided on merits. He referred to a Constitution Bench judgment of the Supreme Court where it was pointed out that the Top Court was never intended to be a ‘regular Court of Appeal’; it was supposed to be an Apex Court for ‘laying down the law’.”There has been no miscarriage of justice, let alone grave. The only exceptional thing here is that he is an MP and that he has the money that Rohatgi offered plane to Delhi for medical examination.
Thousands of people come to the Court. Nobody gets this kind of urgent hearing or this kind of treatment for a simple injury to second toe of foot. I would understand if there was serious attack. And he wants a CBI inquiry for that?” Dave said.
He stated that in similar matters of lesser degree such as Bhima Koregaon case, accused are in custody due to sedition and relief is denied to them.
“These are similar statements. There’s only difference of degree. And the Court rightly said that they are seditious statements,” said Dave.
He also referred to the case of Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan who was asked to approach the High Court in connection with his arrest in the Hathras matter. Similarly, the Top Court refused to entertain the bail plea filed by Akhil Gogoi.
Taking objection, Rohatgi submitted,”The two orders given right now. One is non-speaking order. The second is in a petition under Article 32 (Writ Jurisdiction). I have not come under Article 32; I have come under Article 136.
Mine is after the HC refused to give remedy. Mine is not under 32. Now coming to alternative remedy, the HC did not entertain me and I have no remedy now. Not to entertain is a violation.“
Also read: Raghurama Krishnam Raju has to wait for bail
Suo Moto Contempt Action
During the hearing, Dave and Giri informed the Bench that the High Court has initiated suo moto contempt action against the State for not taking the Petitioner for medical examination in a Government Hospital.They urged that those proceedings be stayed as the High Court’s order for medical examination stood replaced by the Supreme Court’s order for medical examination at an Army Hospital.
“The High Court had directed for the Petitioner to be examined in a State hospital. Then the SC directed him to be taken to Army hospital. The High Court found that yesterday and issued suo moto contempt. Kindly stay that. When the Supreme Court directed for Army hospital, it was in substitution of the order of the High Court,” Giri said.
The Bench however refused to pass any order at the moment, as the High Court’s order is yet to be uploaded. “Oral mention, the order is needed,” it said while giving liberty to the State to approach the Top Court when the order comes out.
Also read: Raghurama Krishnam Raju arrested
Background
Raju was arrested on May 14 on charges of sedition and promotion of communal hatred over his critical remarks against the ruling party in State of Andhra Pradesh and was taken to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) office in Guntur district.
On May 15, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had refused to entertain his bail application saying that he should approach the Sessions Court first.
On May 17, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices Vineet Saran and BR Gavai directed him to be taken to Army Hospital, Secunderabad, for medical examination with respect to allegations of custodial torture. The order was passed after the Court took note of the fact that the Magistrate had noticed injuries on the feet of the MP and that he had undergone a heart surgery last year.Today, Rohatgi submitted that the High Court ruling is illegal as the Petitioner has a right to approach the High Court.
Dave objected, saying, ‘Just because he (Raju) is an MP, he cannot bypass the High Court and come here directly.‘In the affidavit filed by the Andhra Pradesh Government opposing the plea filed by Raju, the State had submitted that being an MP, Raju has “consistently and consciously and with a mala fide intent, abused his authority/reach as a public person with the sole intention of creating enmity between various class of citizens and to incite disaffection towards the Government”.
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(Based on reports of livelaw.in and the report compiled and edited by Akshita Saxena of livelaw.in report from Supreme Court)
