SC Stays FIRs Lodged Against Munmun Dutta, But Raps Actor For Using Casteist Slur

During the hearing, Dutta's lawyer Puneet Bali accepted the fact that the actor made a mistake, but later deleted the video from Twitter within hours after posting it. 

Television actress Munmun Dutta. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Granting relief to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Munmun Dutta aka Babita Ji for allegedly using a casteist slur, Supreme Court on Friday stayed the investigation in the FIRs registered against her in several parts of the country. 

The top court, however, pulled up the actor for her comments. 

The bench comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and V. Ramasubramanian said: "You say you are a woman but tell us if women have any better rights than men or they also have equal rights?"

The actor had reportedly used a casteist slur in a video posted on social media last month which ended up irking various sections of society. 

During the hearing, Dutta's lawyer Puneet Bali accepted the fact that the actor made a mistake, but later deleted the video from Twitter within hours after posting it. 

Bali, however, contended that in the video posted, Dutta did not use the casteist slur intentionally and the word was used in West Bengal to refer to those who took intoxicants.

"You may not be informed. Everyone knows the meaning. Same word is used in Bangla. She was in Kolkata when she said this," the apex court said pointing out to the lawyer. 

Supreme Court has stayed the criminal cases filed against Dutta in various states including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

The court even issued notice to Dalit rights activist and lawyer Rajat Kalsan, who got the first FIR registered against the actor in Haryana.

The actor had triggered a massive outrage on social media with an YouTube video, which led to lodging of FIRs under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Soon after the controversy, Dutta tendered an apology and took down the offensive part of the video. She said she used the word because of language barrier.