Goa, Oct. 6 -- The High Court of Bombay at Goa has quashed the FIR registered against social activist Gaurav Bakshi by the Crime Branch on July 2 this year, after accepting his apology for posting a video on social media that contained unverified claims against Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

Bakshi informed the court that he had withdrawn the video and expressed regret for his actions. Accepting his apology, the High Court granted him relief but directed him to pay a cost of Rs.50,000, which will be donated to the environmental NGO Goa Foundation.

The FIR had been filed under various sections for allegedly spreading misinformation through social media. The court observed that since the activist had expressed genuine remorse and taken cor...