Prashant Umrao should be more responsible, says Supreme Court while extending his anticipatory bail to all FIRs in Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Uttar Pradesh BJP Spokesperson and lawyer Prashant Patel Umrao with respect to any first information report (FIR) that may have been registered against him in different police stations in Tamil Nadu (TN) for allegedly having spread false information about attacks against Bihari migrant workers in TN..A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Pankaj Mithal modified the Madras High Court order which had granted anticipatory bail to him earlier albeit only in certain FIRs in connection with the incident.Umrao moved the top court expressing apprehension that more FIRs might have been registered against him in connection with the tweets and therefore he might be arrested. "The accused is not able to appear (for questioning by Police) since he feels if he appears he will be arrested. There are multiple FIRs for a tweet which was deleted later on. On the same issue there are multiple FIRs that is why substantive writ," Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra submitted."We direct that the anticipatory bail granted by single judge modified by us will be applicable to any FIR registered in the state of Tamil Nadu," the Court ordered.The Court also remarked that Umrao should be more responsible before putting out such tweets. "How many years has he practiced," asked Justice Gavai. "7 years," replied Luthra. "Should be more responsible," Justice Gavai replied.The Court also modified the bail condition set by the High Court which had mandated his presence in police station for questioning every day for the next 15 days..Umrao had allegedly tweeted that fifteen people from Bihar had been "hanged in a room in Tamil Nadu for speaking Hindi" and that 12 of them had "sadly died.""After that, (Bihar Deputy Chief Minister) Tejaswi Yadav shamelessly celebrated birthday party with (Chief Minister) Stalin in Tamil Nadu," the tweet alleged.The police booked Umrao for the tweet and an FIR was registered under Sections 153, 153A, 504 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.He was granted anticipatory bail on March 21 by the Madras High Court which also directed him to report to the local police station twice a day for the next 15 days.Umrao moved the apex court claiming more FIRs were registered. He also sought modification of the bail condition regarding his appearance in the police station.Senior Advocate Luthra submitted that information similar to what his client had tweeted, was carried by other media organisations as well."There was a tweet by several media organizations I retweeted it. But later due to accuracy issues, it was deleted. Now multiple FIRs to harass this young man. Punjab Kesari, Dainik Bhaskar all carried these tweets. Due to multiple FIRs, I will become an animal in the circle ring going round and round," Luthra said."We don't expect a responsible member of the bar to tweet such things," Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi submitted on behalf of State of Tamil Nadu.The Court after hearing the parties agreed to grant relief to Umrao in all FIRs and also modified the bail condition for appearance before Police."Condition B which requires him to report before police station from 10:30 to 5:30 everyday for 15 days is modified. He shall appear on Monday on April 10 at 10 am and thereafter as required by the Investigating Officer," the Court ordered.