Indian scholar moving to US apex court for threatening Bush

Navi Mumbai, Jan 21: An Indian maths scholar and lecturer Vikram Buddhi moved to apex court as he is serving his jail term for threatening former President George W Bush. In 2006, he was arrested by the United States Secret Service agents.

Presently, B K Subbarao, Buddhi's father wrote to Indian and US authorities regarding the issue. He explained the authorities in legal terms that how his son was denied a fair trial.

"Buddhi has served the 57-month jail term in the US. Now, he wants to appeal in the US Supreme Court to highlight the discrimination against him in the lower trial court. By reading the indictment (charge), one can see that the trial was faulty," said Captain Subbarao, former naval officer and now a Supreme Court advocate.

It was alleged that the generous was the author of the message posted on a portal that called on Iraq people to Kill George Bush and other leaders.

"Even if one assumes that Buddhi was the author of the online messages, why is the term 'Internet messages' missing from the 11-count indictment against him," said Captain Subbarao.

Explaining the reason, Subbrao said that,"the indictment merely states that Buddhi 'did threaten to kill' but nowhere mentions how he threatened-whether orally or in writing. If the words 'Internet messages' had been included, the case would have come under command of the First Amendment (freedom of speech), as Internet is treated as 'speech' in the US."

He added that even in the online messages, the author has not directly threatened the former president or others, but 'called upon the Iraqi people to kill US leaders' ."

Citing to the US apex court, "What is a threat must be distinguished from what is constitutionally protected speech" while ruling in a separate case."

OneIndia News