Supreme Court stays 5 out of 6 FIRs registered against actor Munmun Dutta for using casteist slur "Bhangi" in Instagram video

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed five out of six First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against actor Munmun Dutta featuring in the TV serial 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' for allegedly using casteist slur against Scheduled Caste communities in a video (Mun Mun Dutta v. State of Haryana)..Six FIRs were lodged against Dutta in various States under Section 3(1)(u) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for using the word 'Bhangi' in a video posted on Instagram.The FIRs were lodged in Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. All those FIRs except the one at Haryana were stayed by the top court. The Court also clubbed all the FIRs with the first FIR registered against Dutta in Haryana's Hansi."All the FIRs need be clubbed together with the first FIR which was lodged at Police Station, Hansi City, District Hansi, Hisar. In the meantime, proceedings in the FIRs lodged in the States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh shall remain stayed," the Court ordered. The FIR against Dutta in Haryana's Hansi town was registered on a complaint by convenor of National Alliance for Dalit Human Rights, Rajat Kalsan.The Court, therefore, issued notice to Kalsan. .Senior Advocate Puneet Bali appearing for Dutta submitted that the word "Bhangi" used by the actor meant "intoxicated."To this, Justice Hemant Gupta who was heading the Bench stated that "it was not the correct meaning."The Bench further questioned whether Dutta as a woman would have "similar or better rights.".Bali submitted that there "was no men's rea" on part of the actor. .The Bench issued notice in the plea and directed that five FIRs be clubbed into one. .Dutta had earlier issued a statement clarifying her remarks. "This is in reference to a video that I posted yesterday wherein one word used by me has been misinterpreted. It was never said with the intent of insult, intimidate, humiliate or hurt anyone's feelings. Because of my language barrier, I was genuinely misinformed about the meaning of the word," she had said in a statement, which she also shared in Hindi."Once I was made aware of its meaning, I immediately took the part down. I have the utmost respect for every single person from every caste, creed or gender and acknowledge their immense contribution to our society or nation," she wrote..[Read Order]