NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court declined on Monday to consider a petition from a Jharkhand minister who sought dismissal of criminal charges related to allegedly disclosing a minor rape survivor’s identity.
Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma expressed strong disapproval of minister Irfan Ansari’s actions, stating, “You want publicity for everything? It was only for publicity. Mandatory requirements under the law were not followed.”
The court observed that the politician had the option to visit the survivor at the hospital either by himself or accompanied by a single person, according to PTI.
The justices remarked, “There was no need to go with the supporters. It was only for publicity.”
Upon recognising the court’s stance, Ansari’s legal representative requested permission to withdraw the petition, which the court granted.
Ansari had contested the Jharkhand High Court’s September 6 2024 ruling that upheld the Dumka court’s order from November 21, 2022, which framed charges under IPC and POCSO Act provisions.
The incident occurred on October 28, 2018, when the Jamtara MLA visited a hospital with his supporters to express solidarity with the survivor and her family, allegedly sharing her personal details and photographs with media outlets.
