The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the proceedings in the FIRs filed by Maharashtra Police against Prof. Sanjay Kumar, a psephologist and co-director of Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) over a social media post carrying erraneous data of Maharashtra Assembly elections.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice NV Anjaria passed the interim order on a petition filed by Kumar seeking the quashing of the FIRs.
Kumar in a post on X had alleged a dip in voter numbers in two assembly segments in Maharashtra polls compared to the 2024 general elections, which were held nearly six months apart.
He later deleted it and in another post, apologised for posting "erroneous data" on the microblogging platform.
On Wednesday, Nagpur district police registered an FIR against the psephologist on charges of making "false statement in connection with an election".
He was booked under sections 175 (False statement in connection with an election), 353 (1) B (Statements conducting to public mischief), 212 (providing false information to a public servant), and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.
Details awaited
