Focus on MPs who have criminal cases: CJP's Saurav Das slams Zero FIR
Calling the case against Noida girl over abusive remarks against PM Modi "unacceptable", CJP's Saurav Das urged authorities not to use the criminal justice machinery against protesters, saying those aggrieved by abusive remarks should pursue defamation instead.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) criticised the registration of a criminal case against a Noida girl accused of making abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the party's recent protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, with its spokesperson Saurav Das arguing that those aggrieved should pursue defamation proceedings instead of invoking the criminal justice system.
Reacting to the FIR against a Noida girl, Das said that while objectionable or derogatory language should not be condoned, criminal prosecution over such remarks would have a chilling effect on free speech.
"If any language used was derogatory in nature, then the person concerned is free to pursue civil and criminal defamation proceedings against the individual concerned. However, the use of the criminal justice machinery against protesters is highly condemnable, and no one should be punished merely for using objectionable language," Das said.
"The language may be wrong, and it may be objectionable to someone, but that is no reason to invoke the criminal justice machinery against such people. It creates a chilling effect. I don't think this is acceptable to anybody, especially the younger generation," he added.
While Das mentioned that the accused in the case was 25 years old, in an apology video posted by the girl herself, she claimed she was only 15 years old.
India Today Digital could not independently verify her age.
Das's remarks came after a Zero FIR was registered against the Noida girl for making "abusive and objectionable" remarks against the Prime Minister during the NEET paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar on July 23.
Appealing to young protesters to exercise restraint, Das said people should be mindful of the words they use while expressing dissent but maintained that criminal action was disproportionate.
"I would request the younger generation to be very careful about the words they use and the kind of insults or remarks they make against people in general. That said, the use of the criminal justice machinery is a big no-no. It is completely unacceptable and should not happen. We would also like to tell the police to remain calm and not misuse their powers for any political ends," he said.
Reiterating his stand in a post on X later on Friday, Das criticised the police action against the Noida girl, calling it an abuse of the criminal justice system.
Arguing that the use of profane language does not warrant criminal prosecution, he said law enforcement should instead focus on the many MPs facing criminal cases rather than targeting a young woman.
"Profanity does not attract criminal case. 50% of Lok Sabha MPs have criminal cases against them, close to 100 MPs in the BJP. The Police can focus their energy towards them," Das wrote in a post on X.
The FIR was lodged on July 29 at the Expressway police station in Gautam Buddh Nagar on the complaint of Ghaziabad resident Smriti Singh. According to the complaint, the accused's remarks hurt the dignity of the constitutional office of the Prime Minister and were allegedly intended to incite ill-will, spread hatred and disturb public peace.
Meanwhile, a day after the complaint was filed, the girl shared an apology video, now viral on social media, claiming she is 15 years old and saying she was influenced by those around her during the protest.
With folded hands, she says in the video that she had gone to the protest with friends after visiting Connaught Place and got carried away by people raising abusive slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I came under the influence of those people. I am only 15 years old. Whatever I did was unforgivable. I said many wrong things," she says.
Calling it her "first and last mistake", she adds, "I apologise to the entire country. I am deeply ashamed. I can't even look at myself. Please forgive me."
Based on the complaint, police booked the girl under Sections 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
A Zero FIR allows any police station to register a complaint irrespective of where the offence occurred, ensuring that the investigation is not delayed because of jurisdictional issues.
The case stems from the student-led CJP agitation over the NEET paper leak and examination irregularities at Jantar Mantar, which concluded on July 25 after 36 days of protests, police standoffs and resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement ended after the Centre accepted all the key demands of the party.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) criticised the registration of a criminal case against a Noida girl accused of making abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the party's recent protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, with its spokesperson Saurav Das arguing that those aggrieved should pursue defamation proceedings instead of invoking the criminal justice system.
Reacting to the FIR against a Noida girl, Das said that while objectionable or derogatory language should not be condoned, criminal prosecution over such remarks would have a chilling effect on free speech.
"If any language used was derogatory in nature, then the person concerned is free to pursue civil and criminal defamation proceedings against the individual concerned. However, the use of the criminal justice machinery against protesters is highly condemnable, and no one should be punished merely for using objectionable language," Das said.
"The language may be wrong, and it may be objectionable to someone, but that is no reason to invoke the criminal justice machinery against such people. It creates a chilling effect. I don't think this is acceptable to anybody, especially the younger generation," he added.
While Das mentioned that the accused in the case was 25 years old, in an apology video posted by the girl herself, she claimed she was only 15 years old.
India Today Digital could not independently verify her age.
Das's remarks came after a Zero FIR was registered against the Noida girl for making "abusive and objectionable" remarks against the Prime Minister during the NEET paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar on July 23.
Appealing to young protesters to exercise restraint, Das said people should be mindful of the words they use while expressing dissent but maintained that criminal action was disproportionate.
"I would request the younger generation to be very careful about the words they use and the kind of insults or remarks they make against people in general. That said, the use of the criminal justice machinery is a big no-no. It is completely unacceptable and should not happen. We would also like to tell the police to remain calm and not misuse their powers for any political ends," he said.
Reiterating his stand in a post on X later on Friday, Das criticised the police action against the Noida girl, calling it an abuse of the criminal justice system.
Arguing that the use of profane language does not warrant criminal prosecution, he said law enforcement should instead focus on the many MPs facing criminal cases rather than targeting a young woman.
"Profanity does not attract criminal case. 50% of Lok Sabha MPs have criminal cases against them, close to 100 MPs in the BJP. The Police can focus their energy towards them," Das wrote in a post on X.
The FIR was lodged on July 29 at the Expressway police station in Gautam Buddh Nagar on the complaint of Ghaziabad resident Smriti Singh. According to the complaint, the accused's remarks hurt the dignity of the constitutional office of the Prime Minister and were allegedly intended to incite ill-will, spread hatred and disturb public peace.
Meanwhile, a day after the complaint was filed, the girl shared an apology video, now viral on social media, claiming she is 15 years old and saying she was influenced by those around her during the protest.
With folded hands, she says in the video that she had gone to the protest with friends after visiting Connaught Place and got carried away by people raising abusive slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I came under the influence of those people. I am only 15 years old. Whatever I did was unforgivable. I said many wrong things," she says.
Calling it her "first and last mistake", she adds, "I apologise to the entire country. I am deeply ashamed. I can't even look at myself. Please forgive me."
Based on the complaint, police booked the girl under Sections 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
A Zero FIR allows any police station to register a complaint irrespective of where the offence occurred, ensuring that the investigation is not delayed because of jurisdictional issues.
The case stems from the student-led CJP agitation over the NEET paper leak and examination irregularities at Jantar Mantar, which concluded on July 25 after 36 days of protests, police standoffs and resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement ended after the Centre accepted all the key demands of the party.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) criticised the registration of a criminal case against a Noida girl accused of making abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the party's recent protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, with its spokesperson Saurav Das arguing that those aggrieved should pursue defamation proceedings instead of invoking the criminal justice system.
Reacting to the FIR against a Noida girl, Das said that while objectionable or derogatory language should not be condoned, criminal prosecution over such remarks would have a chilling effect on free speech.
"If any language used was derogatory in nature, then the person concerned is free to pursue civil and criminal defamation proceedings against the individual concerned. However, the use of the criminal justice machinery against protesters is highly condemnable, and no one should be punished merely for using objectionable language," Das said.
"The language may be wrong, and it may be objectionable to someone, but that is no reason to invoke the criminal justice machinery against such people. It creates a chilling effect. I don't think this is acceptable to anybody, especially the younger generation," he added.
While Das mentioned that the accused in the case was 25 years old, in an apology video posted by the girl herself, she claimed she was only 15 years old.
India Today Digital could not independently verify her age.
Das's remarks came after a Zero FIR was registered against the Noida girl for making "abusive and objectionable" remarks against the Prime Minister during the NEET paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar on July 23.
Appealing to young protesters to exercise restraint, Das said people should be mindful of the words they use while expressing dissent but maintained that criminal action was disproportionate.
"I would request the younger generation to be very careful about the words they use and the kind of insults or remarks they make against people in general. That said, the use of the criminal justice machinery is a big no-no. It is completely unacceptable and should not happen. We would also like to tell the police to remain calm and not misuse their powers for any political ends," he said.
Reiterating his stand in a post on X later on Friday, Das criticised the police action against the Noida girl, calling it an abuse of the criminal justice system.
Arguing that the use of profane language does not warrant criminal prosecution, he said law enforcement should instead focus on the many MPs facing criminal cases rather than targeting a young woman.
"Profanity does not attract criminal case. 50% of Lok Sabha MPs have criminal cases against them, close to 100 MPs in the BJP. The Police can focus their energy towards them," Das wrote in a post on X.
The FIR was lodged on July 29 at the Expressway police station in Gautam Buddh Nagar on the complaint of Ghaziabad resident Smriti Singh. According to the complaint, the accused's remarks hurt the dignity of the constitutional office of the Prime Minister and were allegedly intended to incite ill-will, spread hatred and disturb public peace.
Meanwhile, a day after the complaint was filed, the girl shared an apology video, now viral on social media, claiming she is 15 years old and saying she was influenced by those around her during the protest.
With folded hands, she says in the video that she had gone to the protest with friends after visiting Connaught Place and got carried away by people raising abusive slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I came under the influence of those people. I am only 15 years old. Whatever I did was unforgivable. I said many wrong things," she says.
Calling it her "first and last mistake", she adds, "I apologise to the entire country. I am deeply ashamed. I can't even look at myself. Please forgive me."
Based on the complaint, police booked the girl under Sections 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
A Zero FIR allows any police station to register a complaint irrespective of where the offence occurred, ensuring that the investigation is not delayed because of jurisdictional issues.
The case stems from the student-led CJP agitation over the NEET paper leak and examination irregularities at Jantar Mantar, which concluded on July 25 after 36 days of protests, police standoffs and resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement ended after the Centre accepted all the key demands of the party.
