Chennai: The Madurai bench of Madras High Court has banned two persons from operating social media for a year after posting derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Muslim community.
Justice GR Swaminathan ordered on Monday after hearing the anticipatory bail petitions filed by Mahadev from Madurai and Jabin Charles from Kanyakumari.
The judge condemned petitioners’ conduct and noted that the prosecution can move the court for cancellation of bail if the petitioner is found using social media or violating any of the bail conditions.
The court directed the two persons to submit an affidavit in the form of an apology realising the mistake they did, before the appropriate judicial magistrate.
A complaint against Charles was lodged in October by Nanjil Raja, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary after the former allegedly posted a morphed picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mamallapuram.
However, Charles has said that he is willing to publish an apology in the local newspaper. He opined that he did not intend to tarnish the reputation of the Prime Minister.
