24 Apr. 24
In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has directed the Mumbai and Thane police to take action on four FIRs registered against BJP MLA Nitesh Rane for alleged hate speech during a Jan Akarosh Rally held in Malwani on March 3, 2024.
The rally’s organizer, Bhagwan Thakur, was also named in the FIRs alongside Rane under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 153A, 504, and 506. However, the court questioned why action had not been taken under Section 295A of the IPC, concerning deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
Responding to the court’s query, Police Commissioner PP Venegaokar assured that investigations would be carried out to assess the applicability of Section 295A, with necessary action to be taken if deemed appropriate.
The division bench of the Bombay HC, comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Manjula Ajay Deshpande, has set the next hearing for June 19, 2024, instructing the police to submit their response.
The FIRs were filed at four different locations – Malwani, Ghatkopar, Mira Road, and Mankhurd – following complaints from Malwani residents, NGOs, and social workers. The petition urging police action was filed by Shanul Sayyed of Malwani, prompted by the alleged failure of the police to register the FIRs despite several meetings and requests.
Advocates representing the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) have been actively pursuing the case on behalf of the aggrieved parties.
The court’s directive has been welcomed by the Malwani residents and NGOs, who expressed satisfaction with the decision and urged strict adherence to the court’s orders by the police. This development highlights the ongoing efforts to address issues of hate speech and uphold legal accountability in the region.
