High Court quashes FIR against MP Governor Ram Naresh Yadav in MPPEB scam

Jabalpur, May 5 : The Madhya Pradesh High Court today quashed the FIR filed against state Governor Ram Naresh Yadav in connection with the MP Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam. A division bench of High Court comprising Chief justices A M Khanwilkar and Rohit Arya quashed the FIR against 88-year-old Yadav. The bench observed, “While dealing with the primary question of extent of immunity and privilege extended to the Head of a State, during his term of office, which answers the jurisdictional fact, we proceed to quash the impugned FIR against the petitioner (Governor) on that count alone, with liberty to police to proceed in accordance with law, after the petitioner ceases to be the Governor.”“For, the immunity and privilege is only during the term of office. At the same time the immunity and privilege extended to the Governor will not impair or whittle down the powers of the police to investigate the criminal case registered against other accused who cannot claim such privilege and in the process, record statement of the petitioner, if required,” the judges further observed.