Madras HC Issues Notice Over Saurav Das Citizenship Probe
Madras High Court seeks replies from the Centre and Saurav Das following a plea to probe his citizenship and block his social media accounts.
The Madras High Court has stepped into a legal battle involving the citizenship and identity of Saurav Das, the co-coordinator of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The court has issued formal notices to the Central Government and Das himself following a petition that demands a rigorous inquiry into his background and the immediate blocking of his social media presence.
The Allegations and the Petition
The legal action was initiated by Ganesh Kumar, a businessman based in the Kanchipuram district. In his petition, Kumar has raised serious questions regarding the identity of Saurav Das, urging the court to order a detailed investigation into his citizenship status.
The petitioner has made a stark demand: should the investigation reveal that Das is not an Indian citizen, the court should direct the authorities to cancel his Aadhaar card and passport immediately.
Battle Over Social Media and the Judiciary
Beyond the question of nationality, the plea highlights a conflict regarding freedom of speech and judicial dignity. The petitioner has requested the court to block Das's accounts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). This request stems from allegations that Das has used these platforms to post defamatory remarks targeting the judiciary and judges of the Supreme Court of India.
Court Proceedings and Timeline
The matter was brought before a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arulmurugan. After reviewing the petition, the bench decided to seek official responses from the respondents, including the Union Home Ministry.
The court has granted a window of six weeks for the parties to file their replies before the matter is heard again. This means the legal fate of Das's social media accounts and the verification of his identity will remain pending for the next month and a half.
Context: Recent Detentions at Jantar Mantar
This legal challenge comes on the heels of other troubles for Saurav Das. He and another individual, Ashutosh Ranka, were recently detained following a protest on October 13 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The detention occurred because Jantar Mantar had been denotified as a designated protest site. Police officials alleged that Das and Ranka had gained entry to the area through private premises, thereby violating the conditions set for maintaining public peace.
However, a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court eventually ordered their release from judicial custody. This release was granted after the court accepted their personal and surety bonds, along with written undertakings promising to abide by the law and maintain peace.