CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday issued notices on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an investigation into the nationality and background of journalist Saurav Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan heard the petition, which seeks a direction to the Union Home Ministry to investigate Das’s nationality and take action, including cancellation of his passport and Aadhaar card, if he is found to be a Nepali national.
The petition was filed by R. Ganesh Kumar of Zamin Pallavaram. It also seeks directions to block Das’s social media accounts on X and Instagram and restrain him from making allegedly derogatory remarks against the judiciary, particularly judges of the Supreme Court.
Notices have been issued to the Regional Passport Officer, Chennai; the Chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI); the Union Home Ministry; the Ministry of External Affairs; the Ministry of Law and Justice; the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; and the grievance officers of X and Instagram.
According to Bar and Bench, the court has sought responses from the respondents, including Das, the Central government and certain private parties.
The plea also seeks directions to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block Das’s social media handles and prevent him from making comments concerning the judiciary and Supreme Court judges.
The matter is expected to be listed after six weeks.
