Guwahati:
A criminal case was filed against Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, his wife and senior government officials, for cutting a cake decorated like the tricolor at a Republic Day function at the Raj Bhavan here.
The case was filed by senior advocate of Gauhati High Court H R A Choudhury at the court of Kamrup chief judicial magistrate.
The court heard about the admissibility of the case on Tuesday and fixed February 15 as the next date of hearing.
Choudhury filed the case against Gogoi, his wife Dolly, Chief Secretary P C Sarma and Additional DGP Dilip Bora for violating provisions of Prevention of Violation and Insult to the National Honour Act, 1971 and Article 51 A of the Constitution which enshrines the duties of the citizen to honour the national flag. Violation of the Act attracts imprisonment for at least three years.
With the opposition AGP raising a hue and cry over the incident, Gogoi had expressed regret and said the act was "unintentional and not to show disrespect to the national flag".
An official release from the chief minister's office quoting Gogoi had said, "The question of respect or dishonor to the national flag does not arise. The very act was unintentional and not to show any kind of disrespect or dishonour to the national flag."