Madras high court quashes FIR against Union minister Shobha Karandlaje

CHENNAI: Madras high court on Thursday quashed an FIR registered against Union minister of state Shobha Karandlaje for her statement that people involved in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru were trained in Tamil Nadu.

Justice G Jayachandran passed the order in view of a submission made by advocate-general P S Raman that the state accepted her apology and did not wish to pursue the matter further.

On Sept 9, the Union minister filed an affidavit in the court submitting that "the alleged comment made by me about the people of Tamil Nadu while addressing the media about the Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blast case in Bengaluru, was made without any intention to hurt the sentiments and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu."

"I have the highest respect and regard for the history, rich culture, tradition and people of Tamil Nadu, and I had or have no intention whatsoever to hurt the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu by any conduct of mine. Hence, I hereby once again tender my apology to the people of Tamil Nadu for having caused any hurt from my comments. The same may kindly be taken on record in the interest of justice," she added.

The affidavit was filed on a plea moved by her seeking to quash an FIR registered by the Madurai police in connection with the case.

On August 7, the Tamil Nadu govt informed the HC that the case registered against Union minister Shobha Karandlaje could be quashed if she called a press conference and apologises for her remarks alleging the involvement of Tamil people in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast.

However, the minister expressed certain reservations in tendering an apology in a press conference and instead filed an affidavit in the court.

According to the minister, the case was politically motivated. She sought an interim injunction against police from proceeding with the probe.