Cartoon controversy: SC rejects petition against UP minister

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation seeking action against Uttar Pradesh Minister Haji Yaqoob Qureshi for his announcement of a Rs 51 crore reward for beheading a Danish cartoonist who drew offensive caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.

While rejecting the plea, Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Justice C K Thakker and Justice A R Lakshmanan said every statement and counter-statement on a controversial issue cannot be entertained in public interest litigtion.

Terming the episode as 'unfortunate,' the Court said petitioner Vijay Kumar Tiwari could file a criminal complaint against Qureshi.