Explained: why did former CBI boss Nageswara Rao issue unconditional apology over Twitter blue tick

Nageshwar Rao, the former interim director of the Central Bureau of Investigation moved the Delhi High Court, claiming that his account on Twitter did contain a blue tick but it was removed in March 2022.

The retired Indian Police Service officer had also sought directions to the Centre to designate or earmark one or more compliance and grievance officers exclusively to handle complaints from users of social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram relating to compliance to the law and rules, including verification of user identity, so that people are not subjected to unnecessary harassment.

On April 7, the court had granted liberty to Rao to pursue appropriate remedies with regard to his grievances in case any adverse decision is made by Twitter.

He then moved a fresh plea which noted that in pursuance to the court's order, he reapplied for the verification tag, however, it was not reinstated.

In May, the court dismissed Rao's plea while noting that “there was absolutely no justification which warranted the writ petition to be filed keeping in mind that the earlier writ petition was disposed of on April 7.

The court asked Rao to pay a cost of Rs 25,000.

Rao tendered his unconditional apology to the court and said that he was a petitioner who “was just asking for his identity to be secured”. In response the court let go his fine.

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