New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the withdrawal of 65 criminal cases against former and sitting politicians in Himachal Pradesh, finding that none of the cases involved grave or heinous crimes and all crimes pertained to staging of dharnas and using force against public officials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allowing the Himachal Pradesh government's application moved in 2024 to close the 65 cases against former and sitting MPs and MLAs, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI), Surya Kant, said, "None of the cases shows any grave or heinous crimes nor any remote suggestion that the accused are hardened criminals or have indulged in repeat offences."

As the matter pertained to elected representative...