Wherever Shashi Tharoor goes, controversy follows him. Even in court. Tharoor, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, had been asked to appear before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Ernakulam on Saturday in connection with the national anthem case. But he excused himself saying he was busy with the Parliament session in Delhi.
However, he was very much in Kerala and attended functions in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam on Saturday.
Tharoor who arrived in the capital on Friday evening left for Kollam in the morning to inaugurate the new MEMU train at Kollam railway station.
Later, he travelled up to Parasaala by train during which Congress workers accorded him receptions at various stations. But he did not attend the inaugural function of the international book festival in Kochi. He will leave for Delhi on Sunday noon.
Tharoor’s counsel Manoj Kumar Chelakkadan submitted before the court that Tharoor is contemplating to move the Supreme Court challenging the Kerala High Court order in the national anthem disrespect case. The HC had dismissed his plea to summon the compact disc (CD) which contains the visuals of the controversial meeting, where Tharoor allegedly showed disrespect to the national anthem, before framing charge.
The counsel made the submission when the case came up before the ACJM for hearing. The court had directed Tharoor to appear before it for framing charges against him. However, the counsel requested the court to adjourn the case and sought sufficient time due to the Parliament session. It also said that he is approaching the Supreme Court raising the question whether the power under section 165 of Indian Evidence Act can be exercised in the case. ‘’This being a substantial question of law, it is expected that the Supreme Court will examine the case,” Tharoor said.
The Magistrate adjourned the case to January 5. Tharoor submitted that he has been sworn in as minister during the pendency of the case. As such he has to attend the Parliament session which is going on and is expected to last till the end of December.