The Allahabad High Court has extended interim protection from arrest until July 14 for YouTuber Gautam Khattar, who is facing a First Information Report (FIR) over alleged derogatory remarks against Sri Karauli Shankar Mahadev Baba, also known as Karauli Sarkar.
Court Proceedings
A division bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena granted two weeks to the state counsel and the informant's counsel to file counter affidavits. The court directed that the petitioner shall not be arrested until July 14, the next date of listing.
Background of the Case
The FIR was lodged by Priyanka Dwivedi, a resident of Kanpur, against Khattar for allegedly acting as a self-styled founder of the 'Sanatan Mahasangh' and using his social media accounts to spread provocative and hateful messages. Specifically, Khattar allegedly uploaded a video of the seer and made indecent remarks intended to tarnish his image and hurt the religious sentiments of his followers.
Arguments in Court
During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel argued that the alleged speech only stated that no one should pose as God. The counsel contended that this was merely an expression of opinion and did not constitute an offence under any law.
Previous Orders
Earlier, on May 11, the court had given the state government counsel a week to seek instructions and directed that the petitioner shall not be arrested. Through its May 19 order, the court has now extended the interim relief until July 14.
