The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti's petition seeking the transfer of a case filed against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks on the condition of hospitals and schools in the state.
A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Aravind Kumar issued a notice to the complainant as well as the UP government in the case and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.
Somnath Bharti had moved the top court seeking the transfer of the ongoing case against him from the Sultanpur court in Uttar Pradesh to the Rouse Avenue Courts in Delhi.
The case against the AAP leader is pending before the court of the additional chief judicial magistrate of Sultanpur for allegedly making derogatory remarks while speaking to the press in Amethi district during a visit in January, 2021.
An FIR was filed against him in the Jagdishpur police station of Amethi by local resident Somnath Sahu for the alleged derogatory remarks.
On July 3, 2024, the Supreme Court had last year stayed the proceedings pending before the Sultanpur court. Two cases were registered against the AAP leader in Rae Bareli and Amethi over his alleged derogatory remarks.
The AAP MLA had previously made comment regarding the condition of hospitals in the state of Uttar Pradesh in January 2021. Following his comments he was arrested by UP police over the alleged derogatory remarks when he visited state as part of election campaign for Assembly elections. On the day of his arrest, ink was also thrown at the AAP MLA by a youth while he was talking to police personnel over his visit to Rae Bareli district. Bharti has been on a visit to Amethi and Rae Bareli ahead of elections.
Somnath Bharti contended in court that both cases were filed out of political vengeance.