Payal Rohatgi sent to jail for 8-days, over Nehru-Gandhi video
Actor and model Payal Rohatgi has been sent to judicial custody for eight days in connection with her controversial remarks on the Nehru-Gandhi family on social media. The 35-year-old was detained on Sunday and subsequently arrested, following which she was produced before a local court in Bundi. The court rejected her bail plea and sent her to Bundi Central jail till December 24.
Rohatgi was arrested based on a complaint filed by Rajasthan Youth Congress General Secretary and Bundi resident Charmesh Sharma against her controversial remarks. She was booked by the Bundi Police under Sections 66 and 67 of the Information Technology Act on October 10. Earlier this month, she was served a notice and directed to respond to the charges, however, she did not reply.
She requested anticipatory bail on Thursday. But, her plea was denied and her hearing was scheduled for Monday. After her bail was rejected, Rohatgi's lawyer, Bhupendra Sahay Saxena, said they would move a higher court for remedy. Her failure to respond to the notice led to her detention by Rajasthan Police from her Ahmedabad residence on Sunday. She was then taken to Bundi.
Reportedly, Saxena told the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court that Rohatgi has freedom of expression, under the Constitution of India. Defending her controversial remarks against the Nehru-Gandhi family, Saxena argued, "Freedom of expression is a right guaranteed under the Constitution and whatever Payal Rohatgi said was not something of her own volition... she was quoting from MO Mathai's book."
Rohatgi courted controversy after posting objectionable content on her social media channels on September 6 and September 21 where she insulted Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi among other members of the Nehru-Gandhi family. The premise was the discussion on 'Triple Talaq' in the Parliament's Monsoon session. She felt that the Congress party wasn't supporting the Triple Talaq Bill.
Thereafter, Rohatgi shared another video where she apologized for her comments. Seeming unapologetic, she said 'sorry' to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and party interim President Sonia Gandhi because she was allegedly being pressurized into it by the two and Rajasthan CM Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Condemning her arrest, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted, "There's little doubt that the comments of Payal Rohatgi were tasteless and false—typical Sanghi drivel circulated on Whatsapp. But to arrest her is unwise: upholding freedom of expression means allowing her to say stupid things without the police getting involved. She should be released." Lawyer Apar Gupta also described her arrest as "excessive" and "an overreach."
