The Supreme Court on Friday directed that the first information reports (FIRs) registered in different States against expelled Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal, in connection with his remarks against Prophet Mohammad, be transferred to the Delhi Police [Naveen Kumar Jindal v. UOI & Ors].

A Bench of Justice MR Shah and Justice MM Sundresh ordered,

"All FIRs are to be transferred to Delhi Police IFSO Unit. No precipitative action or further FIRs against the accused for 8 weeks so he can pursue his appropriate remedy before the Delhi High Court."

Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra represented Naveen Jindal while Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee appeared for the Union.

During the course of today's hearing, Luthra sought similar relief as granted in the Arnab Goswami case.

To this, Justice Shah replied,

"That was in entirely different circumstances. We are not here to protect the accused."

Jindal had made the remarks around the time former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was embroiled in a similar controversy.

Sharma had moved the top court praying that the FIRs registered against her in different parts of the country for her remarks on Prophet Muhammad be transferred to Delhi.

However, the Court had initially refused to entertain the plea and made strong remarks against her. The Bench had remarked that Sharma was single-handedly responsible for fanning flames across India and should apologize to the whole nation.

After she filed an application seeking revival of her earlier petition, on August 10, the top court clubbed and transferred all the FIRs against her to the Delhi Police. 

References:

barandbench.com