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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Tamil Nadu government’s stand on why the National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked against Youtuber Manish Kashyap, who is accused of sharing fake news about migrant workers in Tamil Nadu.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha was hearing a plea by Kashyap seeking clubbing of First Information Reports (FIRs) for making fake videos of attacks on Bihari migrants.
“NSA against him? NSA? We will club the FIRs but NSA?”, the CJI remarked during the hearing.
The Court allowed Kashyap to amend his plea to challenge the invocation of the NSA and indicated its inclination to transfer all the cases to Bihar.
“We will issue notice on quashing of prosecution.. but we will transfer all the case to Bihar,” the Court said.
The Tamil Nadu government was directed to file its reply and the case was adjourned to next week.
The Court also directed that Kashyap remain in Madurai Central Jail until next hearing.
During the hearing today, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tamil Nadu said that Kashyap has 60 lakh followers and was uploading completely fake videos online.
Sibal also submitted that Kashyap went to Tamil Nadu and fabricated information.
“No he has gone to Tamil Nadu and said that how Tamil People are killing Biharis. He has gone there are interviewed people. He has contested elections…He has gone to Tamil Nadu taken videos and then fabricated all of this,” he argued.
The plea filed by Kashyap sought clubbing of FIRs against him in Bihar and Tamil Nadu. It also sought interim anticipatory bail.
He is currently in custody of the Tamil Nadu Police in connection with sharing of a fake video regarding the alleged attack on migrant workers from Bihar in Tamil Nadu.
The police had taken him for questioning earlier after getting a remand order from a Madurai court.
Earlier this month, the top court sought responses from the Central government and the States of Bihar and Tamil Nadu on the plea.
