Delhi High Court Quashes FIR Against AAP Media Coordinator Over Altercation With Female Journalist, Imposes ₹25K Costs
The Delhi High Court has recently quashed an FIR registered against Aam Aadmi Party Media Coordinator Vikas Kumar Yogi over an altercation with a female journalist, after the parties entered into a settlement.
Justice Amit Mahajan said that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the dispute alive and that continuance of proceedings would amount to abuse of judicial process.
However, the Court imposed Rs. 25,000 costs on Yogi, keeping in mind the fact that the State machinery was put to motion. The costs was to be deposited with the Delhi Police Martyrs' Fund.
The Court allowed Yogi's plea seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him for the offences under Sections 323, 341, 506, 509, 427, 149 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
The complainant, working as a senior reporter with a News Channel, alleged that in May last year, when she reached the office of AAP to cover a story in relation to the alleged foreign funding received by them, Yogi rushed towards her and started arguing in an intimidating tone.
It was alleged that at Yogi's instance, AAP party workers allegedly tried to snatch the camera to turn it off and surrounded the woman journalist and the cameraperson.
It was also alleged that the party workers raised slogans in derogatory terms and pushed her and the cameraperson towards the gate of the premises.
After the altercation, an application was filed by a caretaker of AAP seeking registration of FIR against the woman journalist. However, steps were taken later to withdraw the said case as the matter was amicably settled between the parties.
Yogi then filed the petition on the ground that the parties had settled their disputes in June, out of their free will without any pressure, coercion or undue influence.
Yogi told Court that he had unconditionally apologized to the journalist for his behaviour and also undertook not to indulge into any such activity in future.
The complainant told Court that she had no remaining grievance against Yogi and was satisfied with the apology. She also stated that she did not wish to pursue any proceedings arising out of the FIR and had no objection if the same was quashed in its entirety.
Allowing the plea, the Court directed:
“Keeping in view the nature of dispute and that the parties have amicably entered into a settlement, this Court feels that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the dispute alive and continuance of the proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of Court.”
“In view of the above, FIR No. 168/2024 and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom are quashed, subject to payment of total cost of ₹25,000/- by petitioner to be deposited with the Delhi Police Martyrs' Fund, within a period of eight weeks from date,” it added.
Title: VIKAS KUMAR YOGI v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS