Madhya Pradesh HC dismisses plea against Sania in flag row

JABALPUR, March 5: Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed in a Bhopal court seeking registration of a case against tennis star Sania Mirza for allegedly disrespecting the national flag during a tournament in Australia.
Justice Rakesh Saksena, who heard the case after the High Court took suo motu cognizance of the plea filed before Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on January 18, dismissed it on the grounds that the Centre's permission should be sought before registering any case as the incident had taken place in a foreign country.
CJM Ajay Shrivastava had issued summons to Sania on January 7 directing her to appear in person for hearing on the petition accusing her of disrespecting the tricolour during the Hopman Cup tournament in Perth.
The petitioner, who submitted photographs and published material to support his charges, had alleged that Sania was sitting in such a manner that her feet pointed towards the national flag.