Supreme Court rejects plea against Modi’s polling booth selfie  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a petition by an AAP activist from Gujarat regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s selfie at a polling booth after casting his vote in the May 2014 general elections.

Petitioner AAP activist Nishant Deshdipak Verma had contended that Modi had violated the election code by taking the selfie along with BJP election symbol of ‘lotus’ at the polling booth and circulating it on social media.

He said Modi also spoke to the media within the prohibited area of the polling booth. A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice R. Banumathi declined Verma’s plea and said in its brief order: “Heard counsel for the petitioner. The special leave petition is dismissed.”

The AAP worker had challenged the Gujarat High Court’s rejection of his plea on the matter. Verma had moved the high court assailing a magisterial court’s refusal to allow him to place before it evidence and witnesses backing his contention in the case.

The high court found no error in the magisterial court’s order not to allow the plea by the AAP activist. Following Election Commission directions, an inquiry was held that gave Modi a clean chit and said his interaction with the media was “impromptu”.

IANS