Madras High Court Quashes Case Against Union Minister

The Madras High Court quashed a criminal case against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje linked to her remarks about the Rameshwaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru. The Tamil Nadu government accepted her apology, deciding not to pursue the matter further. Karandlaje affirmed she had no intention to hurt sentiments.

The Madras High Court on Thursday quashed a criminal case registered against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje in Tamil Nadu following her remarks linking the state to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru. This verdict came days after Karandlaje offered a public apology.

Justice G Jayachandran issued the ruling after the Tamil Nadu government informed the court of its decision to accept Karandlaje's apology affidavit, indicating their intent not to pursue the matter further.

The case dates back to a low-intensity blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on March 1, which resulted in injuries to about ten people. Karandlaje linked the people of Tamil Nadu to the incident, leading to her being booked by the Madurai police. Seeking to quash the criminal proceedings, Karandlaje stated in her affidavit that her remarks were made without any intentional harm and she has since retracted them, offering a profound apology on social media.

Emphasizing her respect for Tamil Nadu's culture and its people, Karandlaje reiterated her apology, requesting the court to take it on record. She expressed her desire not to hurt the sentiments of Tamil Nadu's populace, thereby seeking forgiveness in the interest of justice.

(With inputs from agencies.)