Allahabad High Court Grants Bail in Modi Defamation Case

The Allahabad High Court has provided bail to Tahir Mewati, who was incarcerated for a year following accusations of posting defamatory content about Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook. Mewati hails from Bulandshahr and was arrested in connection with this allegation.

Justice Rajiv Lochan Shukla delivered the decision, emphasizing the necessity to prevent indefinite detention before trial. Despite acknowledging the seriousness of the charge, the court underscored its commitment to upholding rights under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which ensures personal liberty.

The case filed against Mewati cited sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, alleging that he managed a Facebook account posting disparaging content. The prosecution presented digital evidence, including a mobile device and IP logs, allegedly linking Mewati to the account.

Mewati's defense argued he was erroneously implicated and that the contentious Facebook account was fabricated by others to damage his reputation. Considering both arguments, the court decided that circumstances justified granting bail.

(With inputs from agencies.)