'What was SRK's fault?': SC on 2017 Vadodara stampede case

'Just because he is a celebrity, doesn't mean Shah Rukh Khan should be singled out,' the court said, while upholding an order quashing a criminal complaint against the actor for causing a stampede at a train station while promoting Raees in 2017

- Niharika Lal

Celebrities also have rights like common citizens and cannot be made "vicariously culpable", the Supreme Court observed on Monday, while upholding the Gujarat HC decision quashing a criminal case against Shah Rukh Khan and others booked for allegedly causing a stampede at the Vadodara railway station in 2017, while promoting Raees.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and CT Ravikumar dismissed the appeal by refusing to interfere with the order passed by the High Court of Gujarat quashing the complaint filed by the complainant against the actor.

The bench added, "What was the fault of this man (SRK)? Just because he is a celebrity, it doesn't mean he has no rights. If somebody travels by train, there is no personal guarantee. A celebrity has equal rights like every other citizen of the country. He (SRK) is a celebrity but that doesn't mean he can control everyone else. Let's focus on more important subjects that deserve the attention and time of the court."