Supreme Court Extends Anticipatory Bail to Prashant Umrao in Tamil Nadu FIR Case, Urges Responsibility in Social Media Posts

The Supreme Court has granted anticipatory bail to Uttar Pradesh BJP Spokesperson and lawyer Prashant Patel Umrao in relation to potential first information reports (FIRs) against him in Tamil Nadu. Umrao had allegedly spread false information about attacks against Bihari migrant workers in Tamil Nadu through his tweets.

The Madras High Court had previously granted anticipatory bail to Umrao, but only in connection with certain FIRs. However, Umrao expressed concern that more FIRs may have been registered against him in connection with his tweets, which could lead to his arrest.

The Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and Pankaj Mithal modified the Madras High Court's order and granted anticipatory bail to Umrao for any FIR registered against him in the state of Tamil Nadu. The Court also modified the bail condition set by the High Court, which required Umrao to report to the police station twice a day for questioning over the next 15 days. The Supreme Court mandated that Umrao appear before the Investigating Officer on April 10 at 10 am and thereafter as required.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra submitted that Umrao was not able to appear before the police for questioning as he feared he would be arrested. Luthra also argued that other media organizations had carried similar information to what Umrao had tweeted. However, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi submitted on behalf of the State of Tamil Nadu that Umrao, as a responsible member of the bar, should not have tweeted such things.

The Supreme Court also remarked that Umrao should be more responsible before posting anything on social media. When asked how long Umrao had been practicing, Justice Gavai was informed that it had been seven years. The Justice then stated that Umrao should be more responsible given his experience.

The Court's decision will come as a relief to Umrao, who was concerned about the possibility of being arrested. The case highlights the importance of responsible use of social media, particularly in relation to sensitive topics that can incite violence.