SEWAKRAM SOBHANI vs R.K. KARANJIA, CHIEF EDITOR, WEEKLY BLITZ & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that the High Court erred in quashing the order of the Magistrate under Section 251 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, regarding the plea of the accused. The Court clarified that to invoke the ninth exception to Section 499 IPC, the imputations must be made in good faith and for the public good, emphasizing the necessity of due care and attention based on the circumstances of each case. The Court remanded the case back to the Magistrate for trial, asserting that the determination of good faith and public interest is a factual question to be resolved in the trial process.