NEW DELHI: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has expressed his regret before the Allahabad High Court for his "offending remarks" against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
This has prompted a single judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh to quash criminal case proceedings lodged at district Fatehgarh.
"Sometimes, in a spur of moment, a person utters something with no intention to hurt feelings and sentiments of others, and if such person regrets for making such a statement, the court should take a larger view of the matter and quash the proceedings," the bench said.
“Regret is tough but fair teacher. To live without regret is to believe you have nothing to learn, no amends to make, and no opportunity to be braver with your life," the bench added.
Taking note of the affidavit by Khurshid, the judge said, considering overall facts and circumstances of the case, the context in which he uttered the offending sentence, and his regret for his comment, the continuation of the impugned proceedings against him would not be justified.
The court quashed the proceedings against Khurshid, also a senior advocate also noting he has regretted his comments/statement and has made it clear that he never intended to hurt the feelings and sentiments of anyone or Yogi Adityanath and he made the said statement only in the lighter vein while responding to some questions put up by journalists.
During the electioneering for Lok Sabha Election 2019, Khurshid made the statement in response to question being put by the journalists in respect of the statement of Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, in which Yogi Adityanath allegedly said that the petitioner was sympathiser of Batla House accused/terrorists.
Khurshid had then said, “Rishte me ham unke Baap Lagte hai".
Seeking quashing of the proceedings, Khurshid had filed an affidavit saying "the statement of the deponent 'Rishte me ham unke Baap Lagte hai' is a popular dialogue of Shahenshah movie delivered by reputed actor Amitabh Bachchan, which had no real malafide meaning attached to it when repeated by the deponent which in totality and circumstances was on a lighter side with no intention whatsoever to have hurt anyone's sentiment. However if any person feels hurt the deponent solemnly expresses regret.”
