Exactly a few hours after the apex court struck down Section 66 A of the Information and Technology Act, Puducherry-based businessman Ravi Srinivasan, who was arrested in 2012 for his tweets against Congress leader Karti P. Chidambaram and later let out on bail tweeted, “66A struck down by SC, very happy justice prevailed, freedom of speech restored, come on fellow citizens, let’s express freely but responsibly.”
Mr. Srinivasan, who sounded relieved, told, The Hindu over phone, “I am very happy and I’m vindicated. Freedom of expression in this country has been restored and I’m relieved that case against me would go away.” The case against him is coming for hearing next week in a Puducherry court.
Later in the day, he posted another tweet saying that both the national parties have opposed Section 66 A, when the other was in power. “It is clear that it was used politically,” he said.
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In his tweet on October 20, 2012, Mr. Srinivasan tweeted, “Got reports that Karti Chidambaram has amassed more wealth than Vadra.” Robert Vadra is the son-in-law of Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.
When contacted, Mr. Karti Chidambaram said, “I will defend my fair reputation against slander under the existing provisions of law.” “Free speech does not mean one can say anything and everything anywhere.”
According to the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), a total of 20 and 27 cases have been registered under Section 66 A of IT Act, 2008 during 2013 and 2014 respectively across Tamil Nadu.
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Chidambaram welcomes SC verdict
Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict holding Section 66A of the Information Technology Act as unconstitutional.
In a statement, he said the section was poorly drafted and was vulnerable. The law was capable of being misused and, in fact was misused.