Chennai: Madras high court has quashed a criminal case registered against 14 persons for alleged unlawful gathering and raising slogans in support of the Palestinian people and against the genocide being perpetrated against them.If the entire materials collected by the prosecution taken as a whole, would not constitute any offence, then, directing the parties to undergo ordeal of trial will be a futile exercise and it will infringe the right of the persons, Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan said.The court pointed out that the acts committed by the accused persons do not fall into the ingredients that are required to constitute unlawful assembly. The court passed the order while allowing a plea moved by P P Mohamed and 13 others seeking to quash the criminal case pending before the Judicial Magistrate, Gudalur.According to the prosecution, on Oct 5, 2025, at about 6.00pm the petitioners unlawfully gathered and raised slogans in support of the Palestinian people and against the genocide being perpetrated against them. Therefore, an FIR was registered against them for alleged offence of unlawful assembly and wrongful restraint under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
