The Supreme Court, on Monday, declined to consider a plea by Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari to dismiss criminal charges against him for allegedly disclosing the identity of a minor rape survivor. The bench, comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, criticized Ansari’s actions, questioning the intent behind his visit to the survivor in the hospital accompanied by his supporters.
During the proceedings, the justices rebuked the minister for his approach, implying that the act was done for publicity. “You want publicity for everything? It was only for publicity. Mandatory requirements under the law were not followed,” the bench stated, indicating a disregard for the legal protocols that safeguard the privacy and dignity of sexual assault victims.
The controversy traces back to October 28, 2018, when Ansari, then an MLA from Jamtara, visited the hospital to express solidarity with the rape survivor and her family. During this visit, he reportedly shared her name, address, and photographs with members of the media, an act which led to his criminal prosecution under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The plea by Ansari was in response to a ruling by the Jharkhand High Court on September 6, 2024, which upheld a previous order from November 21, 2022, by the Dumka court to frame charges against him. Sensing the court’s stern disposition towards the case, Ansari’s lawyer requested permission to withdraw the petition, which was granted.
