The Supreme Court on Tuesday served a fresh notice to the Uttar Pradesh government concerning a plea by AAP leader Somnath Bharti, who seeks to transfer a legal case against him to Delhi. Bharti, who faced charges for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the condition of hospitals and schools in Uttar Pradesh, is looking to move the case from the Sultanpur court to the Rouse Avenue Courts in Delhi.
Justices M M Sundresh and Aravind Kumar, overseeing the matter, have also extended the notice to the complainant involved in the case. The proceedings are scheduled for a hearing in three weeks.
The controversy stems from comments Bharti made during a press interaction in Amethi district on January 10, 2021, which led to two FIRs being registered against him in Rae Bareli and Amethi. A local resident, Somnath Sahu, lodged one of these FIRs at the Jagdishpur police station in Amethi. Bharti has contended that the cases were motivated by political vengeance.
Previously, on July 3 last year, the Supreme Court had stayed the ongoing proceedings in the Sultanpur court, providing Bharti a temporary reprieve. The initial stay order followed a prior notice issued on April 10, responding to Bharti’s plea for the case transfer, which cited concerns over a fair trial due to the political context of the allegations.
