HC quashes FIR against MP gov

Jabalpur: In a major relief for MP governor Ram Naresh Yadav, the state high court quashed the FIR filed against him in connection with the MP Professional Examination Board scam, holding he enjoyed immunity while in office.

Jabalpur, May 5: In a major relief for Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav, the state high court on Tuesday quashed the FIR filed against him in connection with the MP professional examination board ( MPPEB) scam, holding he enjoyed immunity while in office.

A division bench of high court comprising Chief Justice A. M. Khanwilkar and Justice Rohit Arya while setting aside the FIR against 88- year- old Yadav, however, said the police was at liberty to proceed against him once he ceases to be the governor.

“While dealing with the primary question of extent of immunity and privilege extended to the Head of a State, during his term of office, which answers the jurisdictional fact, we proceed to quash the impugned FIR against the petitioner ( governor) on that count alone, with liberty to police to proceed in accordance with law, after the petitioner ceases to be the governor,” the bench observed.

Earlier on April 18, the high court had in an interim order stayed the FIR filed on February 24 against the governor by the Special Task Force in connection with the recruitment scam, asking the prosecuting agency not to take any “coercive action” against him.