SC to hear Ramdev's plea on clubbing of cases

The Supreme Court will Friday hear a plea by yoga guru Baba Ramdev seeking the clubbing together of all cases against him being heard in Lucknow following his "honeymoon" remark against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

The bench of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph said it would hear the matter as counsel Mukul Rohatgi sought orders restraining any coercive action against the yoga guru in the wake of a large number of complaints filed against him across the country.

Rohtagi assisted by Keshav Mohan sought the clubbing together of cases being heard in Lucknow where Ramdev had made the remark.

Directing the listing of the matter May 9, the court said there was no bar on Ramdev to travel nor was any summons issued to him.

Ramdev had said April 25 that Rahul Gandhi goes to houses of Dalits only for "honeymoon" and "picnic". He later apologised and said he was misinterpreted.