Madras HC quashes FIR against YouTuber Maridhas for controversial tweet on CDS chopper crash

The Madras High Court on Tuesday quashed the FIR registered by the city police against a well-known YouTuber, Maridhas, over a controversial tweet apparently aimed at the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu in the context of the December 8 IAF helicopter crash which killed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others near Coonoor in the state. Though the tweet was deleted subsequently a complaint was filed against Maridhas by a DMK functionary. He was subsequently arrested. Justice G R Swaminathan quashed the FIR saying offences mentioned in the FIR were not made out in the tweet.Police had registered the case against Maridhas under different sections of IPC including promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence. 

On 8th December 2021, Rawat, his wife and members of his staff were amongst 10 passengers and 4 crew members aboard an Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 helicopter flight en route from the Sulur Airforce base to the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, where Rawat was to deliver a lecture.[70] At around 12:10 p.m. local time, the aircraft crashed near a residential colony of private tea estate employees on the outskirts of the hamlet of Nanjappachatiram, Bandishola panchayat, in the Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area of Coonoor taluk, Nilgiris district.The crash site was 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the flight's intended destination. Rawat's death – and those of his wife and 11 others – was later confirmed by the Indian Air Force. Rawat's liaison officer, Group Captain Varun Singh was the sole survivor.