Former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Rohit Arya joins BJP

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Justice Rohit Arya, a former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, nearly three months after his retirement. He was welcomed into the party by BJP's state unit chief, Dr. Raghavendra Sharma, during a program in Bhopal, as reported by Bar & Bench citing local media.

Tenure in Madhya Pradesh High Court

Justice Arya was appointed to the Madhya Pradesh High Court on September 12, 2013, and became a permanent judge on March 26, 2015. Over his tenure, he presided over several high-profile cases.

Bail Denied to Comedians Munawar Faruqui and Nalin Yadav

In 2021, he notably denied bail to comedians Munawar Faruqui and Nalin Yadav, who were accused of hurting religious sentiments and violating COVID-19 protocols during a New Year event in Indore. Justice Arya stressed the importance of promoting harmony and brotherhood, stating, «The State must endeavour to ensure that this ecosystem and sustenance of coexistence in our welfare society is not polluted by negative forces.» The Supreme Court later granted bail to Faruqui, overturning the high court's decision.

Bail with Raksha Bandhan Condition

In another significant case in 2020, Justice Arya granted bail to a man accused of outraging a woman's modesty on the condition that he present himself to the complainant on Raksha Bandhan so she could tie a «rakhi» on his wrist, symbolising a brother-sister relationship, and promise to protect her. This decision faced heavy criticism and was subsequently overturned by the Supreme