Updated on Nov 6 at 9 p.m.

The Supreme Court today stayed trial in the criminal defamation case against Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav in Ahmedabad over his alleged ‘only Gujaratis can be thugs’ remark. 

The bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal passed the order and issued notice to the complainant seeking a response on the transfer petition moved by Yadav.

Yadav approached the top court seeking a transfer of the trial of criminal defamation case from Gujarat to Bihar. The criminal defamation suit was filed before a Magistrate court in Ahmedabad.

Updated on Aug 29 at 8.15 p.m.

A court in Ahmedabad issued a summons to Bihar deputy chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in connection with a defamation case, for allegedly calling Gujaratis ‘thugs’.

The Ahmedabad metropolitan court, having examined the allegations of defamation levied against Tejashwi Yadav, has deemed them substantial and consequently issued summons to him to appear before it. 

A case filed under Sections 499 and 500

The defamation case was filed by social activist and entrepreneur Haresh Mehta, under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, accusing Tejashwi Yadav of employing disparaging language in labelling Gujaratis as "thugs".

This alleged statement has been perceived as an affront not only to the state of Gujarat but also to its people, as per Mehta's complaint, which seeks due legal action and fitting penalties to be imposed on Tejashwi Yadav, holding him accountable for his “inflammatory utterances”. 

What did Tejashwi Yadav say?

The purported remarks were made by Tejashwi Yadav in reference to the revocation of the red corner notice for fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, a key accused in the Punjab National Bank scam and aimed at prime minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah.

The complaint refers to Yadav’s press conference on Mar 21, when he reportedly stated that in the current situation of in the country, only a Gujarati can be a thug as their fraud will be forgiven.

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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