The Uttarakhand High Court has stepped in to provide further legal protection to former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Suresh Rathore. On Wednesday, a single bench of the court ordered a stay on Rathore's arrest in two additional First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against him in Haridwar and Dehradun districts.
Court Grants Consecutive Relief
This latest order from Justice Ashish Naithani's bench came just one day after it granted the former MLA similar interim relief in two other connected cases. The cases revolve around the circulation of controversial audio clips that have ignited a political firestorm in the hill state.
The audio clips, which surfaced on various social media platforms, were allegedly released by actor Urmila Sanawar, who is reported to be Rathore's second wife. In these recordings, a voice purported to be Rathore's is heard discussing a "VIP" connected to the high-profile Rishikesh resort murder case. This individual was allegedly identified as BJP national general secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge Dushyant Gautam.
Political Storm Over Allegations
The emergence of these clips triggered a major political controversy. Dushyant Gautam has vehemently denied any involvement, calling the allegations baseless. On his part, Suresh Rathore has maintained that the audio clips are "AI-generated" and fabricated.
The complaints filed against Rathore and Sanawar accuse them of engaging in a "planned conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the public image of the senior BJP leader. In total, four FIRs have been registered against Rathore across two districts:
- In Haridwar district: Filed at Bahadrabad and Jhabrera police stations.
- In Dehradun district: Filed at Nehru Colony and Dalanwala police stations.
One of these police complaints was lodged by former BJP member Arti Gaur, whose name was mentioned in the contentious audio recordings.
Legal Battle and Future Implications
In his petition to the High Court, Suresh Rathore not only sought a stay on his potential arrest but also requested the quashing of all FIRs. He argued that he was not involved in any malicious propaganda campaign against Dushyant Gautam.
The court's decision to grant interim protection in all four cases marks a significant development in this legal and political saga. The stay on arrest provides Rathore a temporary shield from police action as the court examines the merits of his petition. The case highlights the escalating tensions within the state's political landscape and raises serious questions about the use of technology in alleged smear campaigns.
All eyes are now on the subsequent hearings, which will determine the validity of the FIRs and the controversial claims made in the audio clips that have shaken Uttarakhand's politics.
