X: @the_news_21
In a significant development, the Bombay High Court today expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the hate speech case against BJP MLA Nitesh Rane and directed authorities to explore further legal action, including the possibility of invoking stringent provisions.
The court’s intervention came during a hearing related to Rane’s controversial remarks made during a ‘Jan Aakrosh Rally’ in Malwani on March 3, 2024. The public prosecutor (PP), representing the police commissioner, informed the court that an FIR had been registered against rally organizer Bhagwan Thakur under Section 188 of the IPC on March 5. Subsequently, Sections 153A, 504, and 506 were added to the same FIR, and Rane’s name was included.
When questioned by the division bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Manjula Ajay Deshpande on why action under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) was not initiated, the PP assured the court that further investigations would be conducted, and appropriate action would be taken if necessary.
The court was informed that a total of four FIRs have been registered against Rane at different police stations, including Malwani, Ghatkopar, Mira Road, and Mankhurd, in connection with the alleged hate speech incident.
The matter was brought before the High Court through a petition filed by Shanul Sayyed, representing the Malwani NGOs Forum, social workers, and residents, who had previously held multiple meetings with the police demanding FIRs against Rane.
Advocates Abdul Karim Pathan, Fazlurrahman, and Shan e Ilahi, representing the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), appeared for the petitioners in the case.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 19, 2024, and directed the police to file their response.
The Malwani residents and NGOs have welcomed the court’s order, expressing satisfaction with the intervention and demanding strict compliance with the judicial directives by the police authorities.
As the case progresses, the High Court’s close monitoring of the matter is expected to ensure that the allegations of hate speech are thoroughly investigated and appropriate legal action is taken, upholding the principles of law and maintaining communal harmony.
Also Read: Fadnavis Slams Uddhav’s ‘All Talk, No Work’ Record, Shrugs Off Pawar’s Modi-Putin Barb
