The Supreme Court on Friday stayed all proceedings against yoga guru Ramdev in various places in the country for his "honeymoon" remarks against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Issuing notice to police in all states, a bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha sought their response within four weeks.

Ramdev's counsel Mukul Rohatgi told the court that there were 12 cases filed against his client in the magistrate courts in Lucknow, Agra and other places. Besides, some FIRs were also registered in various police stations.

"It is clarified that we are not making any opinion on the merits of the case," the bench said.

Cases have been filed Under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for the comments against the Dalit community through his controversial "honeymoon" remark against Rahul Gandhi.

Ram Dev, in his plea said it would be appropriate if the bench transfers the matter to Lucknow judicial magistrate's court as several cases have been filed in Patna, Agra, Moradabad.

He said, "The trial of the complaints would require regular appearance before the trial court which would include production of evidence, documents and records...for that consolidation and trial of the case at one place would result in avoidance of multiplicity of proceedings..."